A powerful and catastrophic turn of events is unfolding in the Caribbean as Hurricane Melissa intensifies into a Category 5 storm and approaches Jamaica with potentially unprecedented strength and impact.

According to recent reports from the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Melissa is packing sustained winds up to 175 mph (282 km/h) and is moving slowly, at just a few miles per hour, toward Jamaica, with landfall expected early Tuesday, October 28, 2025.

The slow progression of the system has raised alarm among meteorologists, as prolonged exposure to hurricane conditions increases risks of disaster. Jamaica’s government has issued mandatory evacuations in coastal and vulnerable regions while emergency shelters and international aid coordination ramp up.

Experts say the rapid and extreme intensification of the storm is linked to unusually warm Atlantic waters, with surface and deep ocean temperatures rising 2–3 °C above average, an environment increasingly fuelled by climate change.

Many fear Melissa may become the strongest hurricane ever to directly strike Jamaica. Catastrophic flooding, landslides, storm surges of 10–15 feet, and winds too severe for current infrastructure are all on the table.

As the countdown continues and the region prepares for impact, the message is clear: Jamaica, and neighbouring islands like Cuba and the Bahamas, face a moment of grave vulnerability. For now, all eyes are locked on Melissa’s path and the scale of the crisis that may follow.