Hurricane Melissa in Central America: Jamaica braces for record-breaking storm

Jamaica is preparing for what meteorologists describe as the world’s strongest storm of 2025 Hurricane Melissa which has already claimed multiple lives across the Caribbean, as per reports.

At least three people have reportedly died in Jamaica, while additional fatalities have been recorded in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

According to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC), Melissa has intensified into a powerful Category 5 system, with maximum sustained winds reaching around 175 mph (282 km/h). Forecasters have warned of catastrophic and life-threatening impacts as the hurricane is expected to make landfall on the island early Tuesday.

Melissa’s unusually slow movement could reportedly result in extended periods of torrential rainfall, raising the risk of severe flooding and landslides across several regions. 

The NHC has predicted rainfall totals of up to 40 inches in some areas, storm surges as high as 13 feet, and sustained winds near 160 mph conditions expected to cause widespread destruction and isolate communities.

Meteorologists note that Hurricane Melissa underwent an extraordinary phase of rapid intensification, making it not only the strongest storm of the year but potentially one of the most powerful ever recorded in the Caribbean basin.