Hurricane Melissa Now the World’s Strongest Storm of 2025 as It Closes In on Jamaica
KINGSTON, JAMAICA — The world’s most powerful storm of 2025, Hurricane Melissa, is rapidly strengthening as it barrels toward Jamaica, leaving destruction in parts of the Caribbean. Forecasters warn the storm could become the strongest hurricane ever recorded in Jamaica’s history, with maximum sustained winds reaching 175 miles per hour (282 km/h).
Hurricane Melissa Leaves Deadly Trail Across the Caribbean
At least three deaths have been reported in Jamaica, while another four fatalities occurred in Haiti and the Dominican Republic as torrential rain and violent winds lashed the region. Coastal towns have experienced widespread flooding, downed power lines, and structural damage as emergency shelters fill to capacity. Officials in Kingston and Montego Bay have issued evacuation orders for low-lying areas as storm surges threaten to inundate entire communities.
Forecasters Warn of “Historic Impact” on Jamaica
Meteorologists say Melissa could make landfall late Monday or early Tuesday, with conditions described as “potentially catastrophic.” Satellite footage released by NOAA and Colorado State University’s CIRA division shows the hurricane’s swirling eye expanding in size and intensity as it moves northwest. Experts warn that the storm’s sustained wind speeds and rainfall totals could exceed those seen during Hurricane Gilbert in 1988, one of Jamaica’s most devastating natural disasters. The National Hurricane Center has classified Melissa as a Category 5 storm on the Saffir–Simpson scale, urging residents to prepare for widespread power outages and extended infrastructure disruptions.
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Source: bbcnews
Emergency Crews and International Aid Mobilized
The Jamaican government has activated national disaster response teams, while rescue units from neighboring Caribbean nations are on standby. Airports have suspended operations, and several cruise lines have rerouted ships away from Jamaican ports. In Haiti and the Dominican Republic, thousands remain displaced after flash floods swept through rural communities, further straining regional resources. Humanitarian organizations are coordinating to deliver supplies, while U.S. and UK weather agencies continue monitoring the storm’s projected path.
Hurricane Melissa’s sheer power has stunned forecasters, with experts calling it a grim reminder of the growing intensity of tropical systems in the Atlantic basin. Authorities urge all residents in affected areas to heed evacuation orders and stay indoors as the storm approaches.
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I’ve lived in Naperville long enough to see how quickly our community changes — from new developments downtown to sudden shifts in our Midwest weather. Reporting on Naperville news and daily forecasts gives me the chance to keep neighbors informed about what really matters. My goal is simple: deliver clear, timely updates so you always know what’s happening in our city and what to expect from the skies above.