Kingston, Jamaica — October 27, 2025 | Dalena Reporters
Jamaica is reeling under the full force of Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm described by meteorologists as “catastrophic and historic,” with sustained winds surpassing 175 miles per hour (282 kilometres per hour). The storm made landfall along the island’s southern coast late Monday, unleashing torrential rains, widespread flooding, and infrastructure collapse across multiple parishes.
Government authorities have declared a national emergency, urging residents in low-lying and coastal zones to seek immediate shelter. At least 800 emergency shelters were activated across the country, while airports, seaports, and power grids were shut down as precautionary measures. Early footage from Kingston and Clarendon showed entire neighbourhoods submerged, rooftops ripped away, and communication lines severed.
Meteorologists from the National Hurricane Center warn that Melissa’s slow-moving core—advancing at only 5 miles per hour (8 km/h)—will prolong Jamaica’s exposure to destructive winds and rain through Tuesday. The system is expected to dump 30–40 inches (76–100 centimetres) of rainfall, triggering massive landslides and flash floods in mountainous regions.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness addressed the nation Monday night, calling Hurricane Melissa “a defining test of our national resilience.” He assured citizens that the Jamaica Defence Force, Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), and international relief partners were coordinating rescue and supply operations.
Despite official evacuation orders, reports from local media indicated that many residents chose to remain in their homes, citing fears of looting and inadequate transportation. Several communities in St. Elizabeth and Manchester are already cut off due to road blockages, with emergency personnel struggling to reach isolated areas amid ongoing gusts exceeding 150 mph.
Power outages have engulfed much of the island, and telecommunications companies have warned of extended disruptions as towers and lines collapse under storm pressure. Hospitals in Kingston and Mandeville are operating on emergency generators, prioritising critical patients and storm casualties.
Experts attribute Melissa’s rapid intensification to abnormally warm sea-surface temperatures across the Caribbean—up to 3 degrees Celsius above average—and record ocean heat content extending deep into the water column.
According to climate researchers, the hurricane exemplifies a disturbing trend in the Atlantic hurricane basin, where storms are strengthening more quickly and maintaining extreme intensities closer to land. “Melissa is not just a weather event,” said a senior analyst at the Caribbean Climate Centre, “it’s a stark reflection of the climate emergency reshaping our region’s disaster profile.”
The hurricane’s structure—large wind field, slow forward speed, and deep moisture core—suggests prolonged devastation even after the eyewall passes. Flash floods and mudslides are expected to worsen over the next 24 hours, particularly in Blue Mountain communities and river valleys.
Neighbouring territories including Cayman Islands, Cuba, and parts of Haiti remain under tropical storm warnings, while forecasters monitor potential weakening and redirection into the western Caribbean later this week. The United States’ Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and UN humanitarian agencies have placed response teams on standby for post-impact assistance.
Global climate advocates are linking Hurricane Melissa to the broader conversation on climate adaptation and environmental justice, stressing the disproportionate impact of extreme weather events on developing island nations. Analysts warn that recovery from this storm could require billions of dollars and years of rebuilding.
Dalena Reporters Editorial Analysis
Hurricane Melissa is a sobering reminder of the Caribbean’s escalating vulnerability to climate-driven disasters. Jamaica’s infrastructure—already strained by economic challenges—now faces a test of endurance and governance capacity. The next 72 hours will determine not only the immediate human toll but also the island’s ability to mobilize coordinated recovery under crisis conditions.
As the Caribbean braces for aftershocks of this natural catastrophe, Hurricane Melissa stands as a signal to the world: climate volatility is no longer a future threat—it is today’s reality.