Hurricane Melissa, a devastating Category 5 storm, made landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday, marking the most powerful hurricane to strike the island in recorded history spanning 174 years. According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) based in Miami, Melissa arrived with sustained winds of 185 miles per hour, placing it among the strongest Atlantic hurricanes ever documented. The storm initially hit near New Hope on Jamaica’s southwestern coast and was moving north-northeast at approximately 8 mph.
Following landfall, Melissa weakened slightly, with the NHC reporting by late Tuesday afternoon that winds had decreased to 150 mph, downgrading the storm to a Category 4 hurricane. Despite this reduction, the hurricane remained a formidable and dangerous force, continuing to batter the island with extreme weather conditions.
The impact on Jamaica was severe and immediate. By Tuesday evening, over 530,000 residents were without power, as reported by Desmond McKenzie, Jamaica’s Minister of Local Government. The storm caused significant infrastructure damage, including a partial roof collapse at Black River Hospital in southwestern Jamaica. The hospital had to evacuate 75 patients as a precautionary measure to safeguard those most vulnerable. Early reports also indicated widespread landslides, fallen trees, and numerous power outages, though officials warned that the full extent of damage would take time to assess due to the storm’s ongoing effects.
Looking ahead, the NHC forecasted that Melissa would continue its path over Jamaica and reach southeastern Cuba by early Wednesday morning as a major hurricane. The storm was expected to maintain hurricane strength as it moved towards the southeastern or central Bahamas later on Wednesday, posing a continuing threat to the region.
Experts and officials underscored the unprecedented nature of the storm and the catastrophic damage it could inflict. Anne-Claire Fontan, a tropical cyclone specialist with the World Meteorological Organization, described Melissa as “the storm of the century” for Jamaica. She predicted catastrophic damage on the island, emphasizing the storm’s exceptional intensity and destructive potential.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies also highlighted the scale of the disaster, with official Necephor Mghendi estimating that as many as 1.5 million people in Jamaica could be affected. Mghendi warned of a “massive impact,” underscoring the widespread humanitarian challenges the storm would create.
Prior to Melissa’s arrival, the Jamaican government worked to prepare for the worst. Prime Minister Andrew Holness acknowledged the limits of their infrastructure, stating bluntly, “There is no infrastructure in the region that can withstand a Category 5.” His focus shifted toward the critical challenge of recovery, emphasizing that the speed and effectiveness of rebuilding efforts would be the key test following the hurricane’s passage.
One of the most concerning aspects of Melissa was its potential to cause extreme rainfall and flooding. The hurricane was forecasted to bring between 15 and 30 inches of rain to parts of Jamaica, with some areas possibly receiving up to 40 inches. The NHC warned of “catastrophic flash flooding and numerous landslides,” conditions that could dramatically compound the storm’s damage. Southern Hispaniola—which includes Haiti and the Dominican Republic—was expected to receive between 6 and 12 inches of rain, also raising concerns about flooding and landslides in those vulnerable regions.
Eastern Cuba was not spared from the threat either, with expected rainfall totals ranging from 10 to 20 inches, and localized areas possibly seeing as much as 25 inches. This raised the risk of “life-threatening and potentially catastrophic flash flooding” there as well, accompanied by numerous landslides. The southeastern Bahamas faced a lesser but still significant threat, with 5 to 10 inches of rain predicted, likely causing flash flooding in some areas.
In addition to rainfall, a life-threatening storm surge of up to 13 feet was anticipated along Jamaica’s southern coast. This posed a direct threat to coastal communities and critical infrastructure, including hospitals. Health Minister Christopher Tufton detailed measures taken to protect patients, such as relocating some from ground floors to higher levels to mitigate the risk of surge damage.
Tragically, Hurricane Melissa had already claimed lives before fully making landfall across the Caribbean. The storm was blamed for seven deaths: three in Jamaica, three in Haiti, and one in the Dominican Republic, with another person reported missing in the Dominican Republic. The human toll underscored the storm’s deadly power and the urgent need for emergency response and humanitarian aid.
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