Montego Bay Jamaica
Photograph ©2021 by Brian Cohen.
Brian Cohen·
Weather
··6 min read

“LAST CHANCE TO PROTECT YOUR LIFE”: National Hurricane Center Warns Jamaica With Category 5 Hurricane Melissa October 2025

Hurricane Melissa is now the fourth strongest hurricane in the Atlantic basin with maximum sustained winds of 185 miles per hour.

Over the years in which I have studied and reported on meteorology, I do not believe I ever came across as dire a warning from the National Hurricane Center of the United States as “LAST CHANCE TO PROTECT YOUR LIFE” as landfall of Hurricane Melissa occurs today, October 28, 2025 on the southern coast of Jamaica.

“LAST CHANCE TO PROTECT YOUR LIFE”: National Hurricane Center Warns Jamaica With Category 5 Hurricane Melissa October 2025

a screenshot of a computer
Source: National Hurricane Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States.

Forecaster Kelly of the National Hurricane Center in Miami has good reason to post such a dire warning, as maximum sustained winds of Hurricane Melissa — which is currently approximately 40 miles southeast of Negril in Jamaica and moving north northeast at a speed of nine miles per hour — are at 185 miles per hour, which means that it is a strong Category 5 hurricane. Landfall is about to occur on the southern coast of Jamaica at the time this article was written.

Hurricane Melissa is currently the fourth strongest hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic basin; but Hurricane Patricia in 2015 holds the record for the strongest recorded hurricane in terms of wind speed with sustained winds at 215 miles per hour and a barometric pressure of 872 millibars. At 870 millibars, Typhoon Tip — which devastated the Philippines in 1979 — holds the record for the lowest barometric pressure in a recorded tropical system with sustained winds of 213 miles per hour. For comparison purposes, the current barometric pressure of Hurricane Melissa is 892 millibars.

a map of the hurricane
Source: National Hurricane Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States.

Because of its slow forward movement — which fortunately has sped up from as slow as two miles per hour — Hurricane Melissa will inundate the southern coasts of Jamaica and Haiti with both torrential rain and a storm surge. Windy conditions — especially on the east side of the storm — will only further exacerbate the situation.

Sangster International Airport — which serves Montego Bay in Jamaica— is currently closed due to Hurricane Melissa. In fact, all airports in Jamaica are currently closed. No date and time has yet been set as to when any of the airports will resume operations. Evacuations from anywhere in Jamaica are no longer possible.

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for:

  • Jamaica
  • The provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo, Holguin, and Las Tunas in Cuba
  • Southeastern and central Bahamas

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:

  • Haiti
  • The province of Camaguey in Cuba
  • Turks and Caicos Islands

Substantial precipitation of up to 46 inches is possible across portions of southwestern Haiti and eastern Jamaica, which is expected to result in potentially catastrophic urban flooding and flash flooding that can threaten lives. Also expect mudslides in mountainous areas. The mountains in Jamaica will do little to hinder the power of Hurricane Melissa.

Rough surf and strong rip currents are currently affecting much of the coasts of Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic, and Cuba. A dangerous storm surge of possibly as high as 13 feet above normal is expected to contribute to the aforementioned significant flooding with potentially destructive large waves.

Expect windy conditions to occur over much of Jamaica and Haiti. An isolated tornado is possible in these areas.

After landfall in Jamaica, the storm is expected to head north northeast towards the southeastern coast of Cuba, where a second landfall is expected as soon as tomorrow evening, Tuesday, October 28, 2025. The Bahamas will be next after the storm crosses over Cuba.

Flight Waivers, Delays, and Cancellations

If you are traveling to or from Jamaica over the next few days, expect delays and cancellations of flights. Keep up to date on the latest information pertaining to this tropical weather system which may adversely affect your travel plans. Better yet, postponing or canceling your trip might be a better option — no matter which mode of travel you plan on taking.

If you have a flight scheduled, your flight may be delayed or canceled — and you may be eligible for a waiver of a fee to change your itinerary. If you are driving in any of these areas, watch out for deteriorating weather conditions and traffic problems.

See also

Here are twelve airlines which have issued travel alerts as a result of this tropical weather system:

Final Boarding Call

I wanted to check the radar for more visual details on Hurricane Melissa, as it likely has a well-defined eye…

a screenshot of a news page
Source: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the Department of Commerce of the United States.

…but the federal government of the United States is currently shut down and closed. Oh, well…

Be sure to contact your airline or transportation provider for the latest information pertaining to your travels — if they are adversely affected — and please: travel safely.

In the meantime, my thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Jamaica, as they have a long road ahead before life returns to normal there…

Montego Bay in Jamaica during a peaceful sunrise. Photograph ©2021 by Brian Cohen.

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