Considered one of the strongest storms in the Atlantic Ocean with sustained winds at 175 miles per hour, Hurricane Melissa is slowly but steadily devastating the Caribbean, having already caused seven deaths across Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
The Category 5 storm is on a northeastward path, with Jamaica, Cuba and the Bahamas bracing for impact.
According to the National Hurricane Center’s Advisory 28A regarding the storm, it is expected to make landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday and Southeastern Cuba early Wednesday as an “extremely dangerous major hurricane.” It will still be considered a hurricane when it moves along the southeastern Bahamas later on Wednesday.
“It’s going to cause significant, widespread, catastrophic, life-threatening floods,” said Evan Thompson, Principal Director of the Meteorological Service of Jamaica.
Many eastern and central parts of Jamaica are expected to receive up to 30 inches of heavy rainfall, which Thompson said is a volume he’s unsure the country’s rain gauges can withstand.
Scientists are also concerned about how climate change is causing more intense storms, as 2025 is the second year since 1960 that three or more category 5 storms have been observed in one hurricane season. Sea surface temperatures in the Caribbean are currently 2.5°F higher than usual, providing extra heat energy for Melissa to strengthen rapidly.
“Human-caused climate warming is making all of Melissa’s dangers worse: driving heavier rainfall, more damaging wind speeds, and higher storm surge along the coast,” said Dr. Daniel Gilford, a meteorologist and climate scientist at Climate Central. “Climate-boosted ocean heat helped increase wind speeds by 10 mph, increasing its potential damages by as much as 50%.”