KINGSTON, Jamaica — Hurricane Melissa continued its explosive strengthening late Saturday, churning slowly across the Caribbean Sea and setting off alarms across the northern Caribbean as forecasters warned of “life-threatening” floods, landslides, and long-lasting devastation in Jamaica, Haiti, and parts of Cuba.
What began as a tropical disturbance earlier in the week has now evolved into one of the most dangerous storms of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. As of late Saturday evening, Melissa was packing maximum sustained winds of 100 miles per hour (155 kilometers per hour) — strong enough to classify it as a Category 2 hurricane, with forecasters warning that it could rapidly strengthen into a Category 4 storm before reaching Jamaica early next week.
According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC), the storm’s slow, erratic movement — just 3 mph (6 kph) toward the west — poses a particularly grave threat. That sluggish pace means rain bands will linger longer over mountainous terrain, amplifying the potential for catastrophic flash floods and landslides.
“Life-threatening and catastrophic flash flooding and landslides are expected in portions of southern Hispaniola and Jamaica into early next week,” the NHC warned in its Saturday evening update.
Jamaica Braces for Impact
With Hurricane Melissa inching closer, Jamaica is preparing for what could be one of its most severe weather events in recent memory. The Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston announced it would shut down operations at 8 p.m. local time, while authorities said more than 650 emergency shelters were being activated across the island.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness urged citizens to act decisively:
“I urge Jamaicans to take this weather threat seriously. Take all measures to protect yourself and your family,” Holness said in a national address.
Officials said warehouses are stocked and thousands of food packages have been prepositioned for emergency distribution once the storm passes. Power companies have warned of possible prolonged outages as sustained winds and heavy rainfall could bring down transmission lines and damage critical infrastructure.
Meteorologists project that up to 25 inches (64 centimeters) of rain could drench Jamaica, creating conditions ripe for mudslides, river flooding, and structural damage in low-lying areas.
Haiti Faces Rising Waters and Growing Desperation
To Jamaica’s east, Haiti is already reeling from the storm’s first blows. Haitian civil protection officials confirmed at least three deaths and five injuries after a wall collapsed amid torrential rain. Rising rivers have flooded several communities, including Sainte-Suzanne, where breached riverbanks destroyed a bridge and isolated entire neighborhoods.
“The storm is causing a lot of concern with the way it’s moving,” said Ronald Délice, a regional director of civil protection in Haiti. Relief teams have been distributing food kits and emergency supplies, but many residents remain hesitant to evacuate due to fear of looting and damage to their homes.
In southwestern Haiti’s Tiburon Peninsula, forecasters predict as much as 35 inches (89 centimeters) of rain — enough to trigger large-scale flooding and landslides in areas still recovering from previous natural disasters.
Dominican Republic and Cuba on Alert
In the Dominican Republic, authorities reported that nearly 200 homes were damaged and water systems knocked out, leaving more than half a million residents without clean drinking water. Downed trees, destroyed traffic lights, and small landslides have left two dozen communities cut off by floodwaters. One person is missing, and another has died as the storm’s outer bands swept through the region.
Cuba, meanwhile, is bracing for Melissa’s next strike. The government issued a hurricane watch for the eastern provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, and Holguín, warning residents to prepare for destructive winds and rainfall totals of up to 12 inches (30 centimeters) as the storm makes landfall around Wednesday.
“Increasingly Dire” Outlook
Experts warn that Melissa’s slow movement could extend its destructive presence for several days.
“Unfortunately for places along the projected path of this storm, it is increasingly dire,” said Jamie Rhome, the NHC’s deputy director. “This is not a fast-moving hurricane. We’re looking at multi-day damaging winds, torrential rain, flash flooding, landslides, and prolonged power outages.”
Forecasters also cautioned that the storm could bring hurricane or tropical storm conditions to the Southeast and Central Bahamas, as well as the Turks and Caicos Islands, by early next week.
Melissa: The 13th Storm of a Hyperactive Season
Melissa is now the 13th named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, which began on June 1 and runs through November 30. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) had already predicted an above-average season, expecting between 13 and 18 named storms due to unusually warm Atlantic waters and favorable atmospheric conditions.
So far, Melissa appears to be living up to those expectations — and then some.
Preparedness and Uncertainty
Emergency officials across the Caribbean are racing to secure vulnerable areas before Melissa’s full force arrives.
In Jamaica, flood-prone zones such as St. Catherine, Clarendon, and Manchester are under special watch. Authorities have suspended classes and urged residents in high-risk communities to move to higher ground before conditions deteriorate.
Meanwhile, U.S. forecasters continue to track the storm’s path closely, noting that even minor shifts in direction could drastically alter its impact. Melissa’s slow and unpredictable behavior makes it especially difficult to forecast with precision.
The storm’s sheer potential for destruction has drawn comparisons to past Caribbean hurricanes like Gilbert (1988) and Dean (2007), both of which caused widespread damage and loss of life in Jamaica.
A Region on Edge
As the Caribbean braces for impact, residents are preparing for the worst — boarding up homes, securing livestock, and stocking food and water supplies. Across social media, Jamaicans have been sharing videos of rising waves and ominous skies, while radio stations broadcast continuous emergency updates.
Meteorologists warn that the danger will not end when the winds die down. With saturated ground and overflowing rivers, secondary flooding and landslides could continue for days after the storm moves on.
As Prime Minister Holness emphasized, this is not a storm to take lightly.
“The next 72 hours will be critical,” he said. “What we do now will determine how many lives we save and how quickly we recover.”