Hurricane Melissa has rapidly strengthened into a Category 5 storm, becoming the most powerful tropical cyclone of 2025 so far, according to Wikipedia and regional weather authorities. The storm now poses a severe threat to parts of the Greater Antilles, including Jamaica, southeastern Cuba, and Hispaniola.
Extreme Winds and Life-Threatening Conditions
Melissa’s sustained winds have surpassed 160 mph (257 km/h), prompting warnings of catastrophic wind damage, storm surges, and flooding. Meteorologists emphasize the hurricane’s rapid intensification over warm Caribbean waters, which has left communities scrambling to prepare and evacuate.
Humanitarian Impact
Authorities report at least eight fatalities in Hispaniola, where torrential rains have triggered landslides and flash floods, destroying homes and critical infrastructure. Rescue and relief efforts are ongoing, though access is hampered by washed-out roads and widespread power outages.
Forecast and Preparedness Measures
Hurricane Melissa is expected to continue moving northwest, potentially impacting Jamaica within the next 24 hours before curving toward Cuba and the Bahamas later in the week. The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) has urged residents in the projected path to take immediate precautions and adhere to evacuation orders.
Regional disaster agencies and humanitarian organizations are mobilizing aid, emphasizing that if Melissa maintains its intensity, it could become one of the most devastating storms in recent Caribbean history.
