Assessment of the Effects and Impacts of Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica

Omar Bello, Tsuneki Hori, Monique Johnson and Ginés Suárez

in Coediciones from Naciones Unidas Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL)

Abstract: Hurricane Melissa was a highly destructive Category 5 Atlantic hurricane that affected Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba, and The Bahamas in late October and early November 2025. It was the thirteenth named storm, fifth hurricane, fourth major hurricane, and third Category 5 hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. The system developed and intensified rapidly under exceptionally favorable environmental conditions in the Caribbean Sea, including very high sea surface temperatures, elevated ocean heat content, and low wind shear. Melissa reached its peak intensity with sustained winds of 185 mph (295 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 892 mbar, ranking among the most powerful hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic basin. Jamaica was directly impacted by Hurricane Melissa on October 28, from midday through the early hours of the night. The hurricane made landfall near New Hope in Westmoreland Parish at Category 5 strength and crossed the island from southwest to northeast, causing catastrophic impacts before weakening and continuing toward Cuba and The Bahamas. During the event, the Meteorological Service of Jamaica issued 58 advisories and alerts, which, together with guidance from the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), supported Government decision-making. These actions included the declaration of the entire island as a threatened and subsequently a disaster area, activation of national and parish emergency operations centers, opening of emergency shelters, and the issuance of mandatory evacuation orders for high-risk communities.

Date: 2026 Written 2026-05-29
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