Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday as a Category 5 hurricane, one of the strongest landfalls ever recorded in the Atlantic basin. The storm unleashed catastrophic winds, torrential rainfall, and life-threatening storm surge that battered coastal towns and parishes across the island.
By late Tuesday night, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) downgraded Melissa to a Category 4 storm as it tracked northwest toward eastern Cuba. Despite the weakening, the system continued to produce hurricane-force winds exceeding 130 mph, along with heavy flooding and power outages across much of Jamaica.
Melissa Makes Landfall in Cuba as Category 3
Early Wednesday morning, Hurricane Melissa made its second landfall in Cuba as a Category 3 storm, according to an NHC bulletin. The hurricane came ashore near Chivirico in the province of Santiago de Cuba, bringing maximum sustained winds of around 120 mph (195 km/h).
The NHC described Melissa as “extremely dangerous,” warning of continued flooding, mudslides, and infrastructure damage as the storm moved inland over eastern Cuba. Coastal communities reported significant storm surge, and emergency services were on high alert as the system continued westward.
Jamaica ‘Will Rebuild,’ Says Prime Minister
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness addressed the nation on Tuesday evening, calling the storm’s impact “devastating” but urging citizens to remain hopeful.
“Tonight I encourage Jamaicans to be hopeful,” Holness said in a post to X (formerly Twitter), sharing a clip from an interview aired on CNN. “I know many, especially those in the worst-affected parishes, are feeling disheartened. Your homes may have been damaged or destroyed, and your communities and towns no longer look the same.”
Holness added:
“I know your pain and I feel your loss. We are mobilizing quickly to start the relief and recovery efforts, and we will be there with you every step of the way.”
Despite extensive damage to infrastructure and homes, Holness vowed that “Jamaica will rebuild — and we will do so even better than before.”
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Ongoing Threat and Forecast
Forecasters say Melissa will continue moving northwest through Wednesday, weakening further as it crosses Cuba before entering the Florida Straits later this week. Heavy rain and flash flooding remain major concerns across eastern Cuba, the Cayman Islands, and southern Florida.
The National Hurricane Center continues to closely monitor the system, warning residents in the region to stay alert for updates and potential evacuation advisories.
