The Most Powerful Hurricane To Ever Hit Jamaica To Make Landfall In A Few Hours

Jamaica is bracing for the full fury of Hurricane Melissa — a Category 5 monster now unleashing devastating winds, torrential rains, and dangerous storm surges as it edges slowly toward the island’s southern coast.

According to the National Hurricane Center’s 5 a.m. advisory, Melissa was located about 115 miles west-southwest of Kingston, packing maximum sustained winds of 175 miles per hour and gusts well above 200 mph. The storm is crawling north-northeast at just 5 mph, prolonging its destructive assault on the island.

Meteorologists warn that the hurricane’s eyewall, the most intense and dangerous part of the storm, will sweep across Jamaica later today, bringing “catastrophic” winds and flash flooding. Officials say total structural failure is likely in some areas, particularly across high elevations where gusts could be 30 percent stronger than at sea level.

The hurricane is expected to dump between 15 and 30 inches of rain across much of Jamaica, with isolated areas facing up to 40 inches enough to trigger life-threatening landslides and widespread flooding. Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston has already recorded sustained winds of 39 mph and gusts near 60 mph, while Montego Bay has reported similar conditions.

Storm surge poses another deadly threat, with seas expected to rise 9 to 13 feet above normal levels along Jamaica’s south coast, accompanied by massive, destructive waves.

After passing over Jamaica, Melissa is forecast to move across southeastern Cuba on Wednesday morning and then toward the southeastern Bahamas later that day. Hurricane warnings remain in effect for Jamaica, parts of Cuba, and the southeastern and central Bahamas, while a watch has been issued for the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Authorities are urging all residents in the warning zones to complete last-minute preparations immediately and to remain indoors until the hurricane has passed.

Meteorologists describe Melissa as one of the most powerful storms ever recorded in the western Caribbean — stronger even than 1988’s Hurricane Gilbert, long regarded as Jamaica’s benchmark for devastation.

As the storm advances, regional leaders have expressed solidarity with Jamaica, calling for prayers and pledging support once conditions allow for recovery efforts.