Category 5 Hurricane Melissa Batters Jamaica With Catastrophic Winds Flooding

Hurricane Melissa has intensified into a Category 5 storm with sustained winds of 160 mph as it approaches Jamaica, threatening catastrophic wind damage, life-threatening storm surge, and torrential rainfall that could reach up to 40 inches in isolated areas. The hurricane is expected to make landfall in Jamaica early Tuesday, then move across eastern Cuba and the southeastern Bahamas, maintaining major hurricane strength through its path. This marks the first recorded Category 4 or 5 hurricane to make landfall in Jamaica, with forecasters warning of massive flooding, landslides, and widespread destructive impacts. Hurricane warnings and watches are in effect for Jamaica, eastern Cuba, the Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands, with officials urging immediate storm preparations due to rapidly deteriorating conditions. Melissa is the third Category 5 hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season and is noted as the most powerful storm to threaten Jamaica in decades. The National Hurricane Center emphasizes that both Category 4 and 5 intensities can cause catastrophic damage, underscoring the severity of the approaching storm.