Jamaica’s prime minister has warned that his island is a “disaster area” after Hurricane Melissa ripped a path of destruction on Tuesday.
The storm, one of the most powerful hurricanes on record, made landfall on Tuesday afternoon and lashed the island nation with brutal winds and torrential rain.
Authorities warned residents to remain sheltered amid severe risks of floods and landslides.
It is not known if anyone has been killed – but Andrew Holness, Jamaica’s prime minister, said casualties are likely.
“Reports that we have had so far would include damage to hospitals, significant damage to residential property, housing and commercial property as well,” Mr Holness told CNN.
Credit: Jamaica Constabulary Force
He said the government has not received reports of storm-related deaths but said he is “expecting that there would be some loss of life”.
The scale of Melissa’s damage in Jamaica was not yet clear, as a comprehensive assessment could take days and much of the island was still without power, with communications networks badly disrupted.
‘The damage is extensive’
At its peak, the storm – which has moved north and is set to hit Cuba on Wednesday – packed ferocious sustained winds of 185 mph.
Desmond McKenzie, a government minister, said several hospitals had been damaged, including in the hard-hit southwestern district of Saint Elizabeth, a coastal area he said was “underwater”.
“The damage to Saint Elizabeth is extensive, based on what we have seen,” he told a briefing.
“Saint Elizabeth is the bread basket of the country, and that has taken a beating. The entire Jamaica has felt the brunt of Melissa.”
The hurricane was the worst to ever strike Jamaica, hitting land with maximum wind speeds even more potent than most of recent history’s most brutal storms, including 2005’s Katrina, which ravaged the US city of New Orleans.
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The storm took hours to cross over the Caribbean nation, a passage over land that diminished its winds, dropping by Tuesday evening down to a Category 3 storm from the top-level of 5. But the still-powerful Melissa was set to hit Cuba as soon as Tuesday night and later the Bahamas.
Even before Melissa slammed into Jamaica, seven deaths – three in Jamaica, three in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic – had been blamed on the deteriorating conditions. Jamaica’s climate change minister told CNN that Hurricane Melissa’s effect was “catastrophic,” citing flooded homes and “severely damaged public infrastructure” and hospitals.
Health authorities were also urging vigilance against crocodiles displaced by the torrential rains. “Rising water levels in rivers, gullies, and swamps could cause crocodiles to move into residential areas,” the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA) posted in a public service announcement on Instagram.
04:15am
Follow the latest
You can follow the latest coverage of Hurricane Melissa in Wednesday’s live blog.
03:27am
Donald Trump says US ready to assist Jamaica
US President Donald Trump says he is ready to assist Jamaica in its recovery from Hurricane Melissa.
“On a humanitarian basis, we have to, so we’re watching it closely, and we’re prepared to move. It’s doing tremendous damages as we speak,” Mr Trump told reporters accompanying him on his flight from Japan to South Korea.
The US president also addressed the fierceness of the hurricane, which is one of the strongest storms on record in the Atlantic Ocean and has overtaken Hurricane Katrina in intensity.
“I’ve never seen that before,” Mr Trump said of a Category 5 hurricane.
“It’s literally just… knocking down everything in front of it.
“It’s just, it’s a stage five. What can I say? You don’t see stages like that. You don’t see fives. You see fours and threes.”
The hurricane made landfall in Jamaica as a Category 5 storm, but had weakened to a Category 3 before re-strengthening to a Category 4.
03:23am
Melissa strengthens again to Category 4
Hurricane Melissa has intensified to become a Category 4 storm again, just hours after weakening.
The hurricane had decreased in strength to a Category 3 as it left Jamaica, but on its approach to Cuba, where it is expected to make landfall within the hour, it regained power.
An advisory from the US National Hurricane Center warns that Melissa is advancing on the island as an “extremely dangerous major hurricane” with maximum sustained winds of 130mph.
03:08am
Bermuda braces for hurricane impact
Hurricane Melissa is currently wreaking havoc in Jamaica, but more than 1,200 miles north, Bermuda is already bracing for the storm’s destruction.
Like other Caribbean islands, the self-governing British Overseas Territory, located 650 miles east of the US state of North Carolina, has a hurricane season each year, but the storms rarely cause significant damage.
However, Bermudian authorities say that “this one is different”.
Michael Weeks, the territory’s minister of national security, told The Royal Gazette that Bermuda “cannot afford to take this lightly”.
“It is strong, it is moving our way and if we let our guard down, it could catch us off-guard like storms have done before,” Mr Weeks said.
The hurricane weakened to a Category 3 on Tuesday night as it approached Cuba, and is expected to further decrease in strength to a Category 2 before passing 70 miles to the west of Bermuda early on Friday morning.
There is still a possibility, though, that the hurricane could intensify again as it moves toward Bermuda. The Bermuda Weather Service issued a hurricane watch and said conditions are expected to deteriorate late Thursday night into Friday morning, with a likelihood of rip currents and hazardous surf.
02:48am
Life-threatening floods possible in Cuba
Cuba is set to be doused by more than a foot of rain and could see life-threatening floods when the hurricane makes landfall in a matter of hours.
Although the storm weakened to a Category 3 overnight, that still means violent winds up to 125mph which could cause widespread damage to infrastructure.
The country will see between 10 and 20 inches of rainfall, with some localised mountainous areas receiving 25 inches, CNN reported.
It is those more elevated regions that are of most cause for concern. The large amounts of rain could cause dangerous landslides and flash flooding even after the hurricane passes over the island.
The torrents will be made worse by an expected storm surge of 8-12 inches higher than normal, accompanied by large waves.
02:36am
Watch: Residents rescued from damaged homes by police in south-west Jamaica
Credit: Jamaica Constabulary Force
02:05am
Cuban president urges citizens to “act responsibly”
Cuba’s president has urged citizens to “act responsibly” as Hurricane Melissa barrels toward the country.
Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, who leads Cuba’s autocratic Communist Party, ordered mass evacuations on Tuesday afternoon, warning of the storm’s destructive potential.
More than 735,000 people have been evacuated so far, the president said on social media.
“The most important thing is that we all act responsibly,” Mr Díaz-Canel Bermúdez said in Cuba’s state newspaper, Granma.
“It is essential that no one venture to bathe in swollen rivers. No one should return from evacuation sites to their homes or residences until instructions have been given to return or enter the recovery phase in each of the territories.”
He added on social media: “It will be a very difficult night for all of Cuba, but we will recover.”
The Cuban president said he has mobilised the country’s civil defence to aid recovery efforts and restore water, communications and electricity.
01:35am
Shelters to remain open across Jamaica
Shelters will remain open in Jamaica “for as long as it is necessary”, a Jamaican official said in a press briefing.
The official shelters operated by the government have seen “increased numbers”, and are harbouring approximately 15,000 people across the country, said Desmond McKenzie, the deputy chairman of Jamaica’s disaster risk management council.
Many more have created makeshift refuges. The government was able to reach most of those shelters and provide the people there with supplies, Mr McKenzie said.
Images have emerged of people sleeping on cots in schools as heavy rains and violent winds lashed the island.
People take shelter in a school ahead of the hurricane’s arrival in Old Harbour, Jamaica, on Monday – Matias Delacroix/AP
Mr McKenzie, who also serves as minister for local government, said shelters cannot be closed unless instructed by himself or the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management.
Cubans were also seen dragging mattresses and wagons as they began evacuating to shelters ahead of the hurricane’s approach on Tuesday night.
People take their belongings to shelters ahead of Hurricane Melissa’s landfall in Caleta Blanca, Cuba – Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters
12:48am
In pictures: Cuba residents brace for hurricane’s arrival
People covered their car in preparation for the arrival of Melissa – Norlys Perez
A man secures part of a roof in the city of Santiago de Cuba, southeast Cuba – YAMIL LAGE
Soldiers helped evacuate residents of Canizo – Ramon Espinosa
12:19am
Hurricane weakens to Category 3
Hurricane Melissa has weakened to a Category 3 storm as it approaches Cuba.
Wind speeds have decreased to 125 miles per hour, and conditions are expected to “deteriorate rapidly” over the next few hours, according to an advisory from the US National Hurricane Center.
The hurricane is expected to make landfall in Cuba sometime between late Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.
12:10am
Health systems already hit by “repeated crises”
The damage to health systems across the Caribbean will be severe, aid groups have warned, and will be compounded by years of shocks from natural disasters and violence.
Ciro Ugarte, the director of health emergencies at the Pan American Health Organisation, told The New York Times that Jamaica’s health system is facing “one of its most severe crises in recent memory”.
Parts of Jamaica and Cuba are still recovering from a pair of powerful hurricanes in 2024, one of which was the strongest Category 5.
Although Jamaica’s health system is relatively strong compared to some other countries, “no amount of preparation is sufficient in the face of a Category 5 hurricane”, Mr Ugarte said.
Hospitals have already been affected. Black River Hospital in St. Elizabeth Parish is without power and has been breached by floodwaters, necessitating the evacuation of 75 patients.
Other hospitals across the country are bracing for impact and have activated emergency measures, in some cases suspending all but essential care.
The hurricane is threatening communities already made vulnerable by “repeated crises”, a statement from the American Red Cross said.
“The damage to health services will be very high,” Mr. Ugarte said. “The situation is tense.”
Haiti, although not in the direct path of the hurricane, is still set to see heavy rain from the outer edges of the storm. The country has been wracked by gang violence and over a million people have been displaced from their homes.
The airport in Kingston, Jamaica’s capital, has reportedly been spared a significant impact by the storm, easing the ability of humanitarian organisations to coordinate relief efforts.
“That’s like God’s gift in the middle of this situation,” Mr Ugarte said.
11:58pm
Evacuations under way in Cuba
An estimated 281,000 people have been evacuated in eastern Cuba, a provincial official has said.
Many low-lying and coastal communities have been completely evacuated except for officials in charge of safety, said Beatriz Johnson Urrutia, the president of the Provincial Defense Council and first secretary of the Cuban Communist Party in Santiago de Cuba.
Heavy rains have battered parts of the province and more than 100 people have been rescued, Ms Urrutia said.
The province has opened 101 evacuation centres and has adapted clinics to accommodate people in rural areas.
11:16pm
Pictured: Hurricane begins to lash more countries
A man next to a house on a flooded street in the Las Cucarachas neighbourhood of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – Danny Polanco/AFP
Residents drive a car through flooded areas before Hurricane Melissa hits the city of Santiago de Cuba, Cuba – Yamil Lage/AFP
A street vendor covers up in plastic in the Petion-Ville neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, Haiti – Odelyn Joseph/AP
11:01pm
Aid cuts hamper UN response to hurricane
Aid cuts have created a “big gap” in the ability of the UN’s food agency to respond to Hurricane Melissa.
The World Food Programme (WFP) was only able to position 15 per cent of the supplies it normally has on hand in the wake of a natural disaster, said Wilfred Nkwambi, the WFP’s head of programmes in Haiti.
“You can see there is a big gap in terms of our response,” Mr Nkwambi told The New York Times.
Since Donald Trump returned to office, the US has slashed aid to the WFP, which is expecting a funding shortfall of $622m (£469m) in the next six months.
Access to islands hit by the hurricane will be “extremely difficult” because the storm surge is “almost like a tsunami”, the WFP said in a statement.
Infrastructure will have been damaged, and humanitarian staff will be working under the increased risk of landslides and flash flooding.
“Access will be a major challenge. If the storm surge hits hard, it will be difficult to get humanitarian staff in and move food and relief supplies – alternative airstrips are being prepared,” the statement said.
10:39pm
Phone service down
Phone service has been severely compromised in western Jamaica, a telecommunications company has said.
“We are seeing fibre breaks and downed power lines, with the most significant impact concentrated in western Jamaica, where damage to infrastructure has been considerable,” according to a statement from Digicel Group given to CNN. “These conditions have affected connectivity for many customers in that region.”
Marcelo Cataldo, Digicel’s chief executive officer, told CNN that “the situation remains highly fluid”.
10:28pm
Families trapped in their homes in hard-hit western Jamaica
At least three families have been trapped in their homes by floodwaters and are unable to be rescued due to deteriorating conditions.
Rescue crews could not reach the families in the town of Black River in the south-west of Jamaica, where Hurricane Melissa has hit hardest, said Desmond McKenzie, the deputy chairman of Jamaica’s disaster risk management council.
“Roofs were flying off,” Mr McKenzie said.
“We are hoping and praying that the situation will ease so that some attempt can be made to get to those persons.”
10:00pm
Half a million Jamaicans without power
Some 530,000 people are without power following the destruction waged by Hurricane Melissa, Jamaican officials have said. An estimated 15,000 are currently in shelters.
09:48pm
British family ‘let down by government’
David Rowe was forced to cut short his family holiday to Jamaica and pay £3,500 ($4,647) for last-minute flights home before airports shut.
Mr Rowe, who is British, claimed he had been “completely let down” by the Foreign Office failing to issue a warning against travel sooner.
“It’s all too late, their reaction and their response to the storm has been too late,” he claimed.
David Rowe with his wife Abby, daughter Cora, 8, and son Ethan, 12, during their holiday in Jamaica – David Rowe /PA Wire
09:05pm
Melissa leaving Jamaica
Melissa is starting to leave Jamaica, after making landfall earlier today.
The US’ National Hurricane Centre said in a statement that the eye of Melissa was “emerging from the northern coast of western Jamaica”.
Nevertheless, it added, a “life-threatening storm surge continues in Jamaica”.
08:23pm
‘Extensive damage’ in south-west Jamaica
Melissa has inflicted “extensive damage” on south-west Jamaica, including the parish of St Elizabeth, an official has said.
“There is extensive, extensive damage in the southwestern areas, in St Elizabeth, major damage in St Elizabeth,” Richard Thompson, director general of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), told CNN.
He added that schools, hospitals and homes had been hit by “a lot of flooding” and “extensive damage”.
08:15pm
Melissa ‘now Category 4 hurricane’
Melissa has now been downgraded to a Category 4 Hurricane, according to the US’ National Hurricane Centre. It nevertheless still “powerful” and “life-threatening”, the agency said, reiterating its call for residents to stay in shelter.
People evacuate before the the arrival of Hurricane Melissa in Canizo – AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa
08:13pm
Residents advised to wear helmets ‘for extra protection’
Jamaicans have been advised to cover themselves in mattresses and “wear a helmet for added protection”.
The US’ National Hurricane Centre, issuing an alert at 4pm EDT (8pm GMT) said Melissa was around 10 miles south of Montego Bay in Jamaica, and moving north-northeast at 8mph. The storm’s maximum sustained winds reach 150mph, it added.
“Residents should not leave their shelter and should remain in place through the passage of these life-threatening conditions. To protect yourself from wind, the best thing you can do is put as many walls as possible between you and the outside,” the agency said in a statement.
“An interior room without windows, ideally one where you can also avoid falling trees, is the safest place you can be in a building. You can cover yourself with a mattress and wear a helmet for added protection.”
07:47pm
Jamaicans warned about wandering crocodiles
Jamaican health authorities have urged residents across the island to be vigilant for crocodiles displaced by Hurricane Melissa.
“Rising water levels in rivers, gullies, and swamps could cause crocodiles to move into residential areas,” posted the South East Regional Health Authority (Serha) in a public service announcement on Instagram.
“Residents living near these areas are therefore advised to remain vigilant and avoid floodwaters.”
Serha – which serves residents across Kingston, St. Andrew, St. Catherine and St. Thomas – warned families to keep children and pets away from flooded areas.
07:26pm
8,000 Britons in Jamaica
As many as 8,000 British citizens are in the Jamaica, where residents are hunkering down to avoid Hurricane Melissa.
A Briton on holiday there said he had been ordered to stay in his hotel bathroom until the storm passes.
Andrew Tracey had been due to fly home on Monday before his flight was cancelled.
Volunteers fill up boxes with essential goods at the Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) headquarters in Miami, Florida – CRISTOBAL HERRERA-ULASHKEVICH/EPA/Shutterstock
He told Sky News food packages were being delivered to guests, with deck chairs removed from the beach and swimming pools drained where he was staying at the Negril hotel.
“The balcony and walls do feel as though they are vibrating just due to the strength of the wind,” he told the broadcaster.
“I’m very nervous, it’s hard to comprehend what we are likely to expect.”
06:55pm
Melissa’s slow movement makes destruction worse
The slow movement of Hurricane Melissa across Jamaica is one of the reasons it is so dangerous to those on the island.
It means rainfall will have more time to accumulate, triggering flash flooding and mudslides.
Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica with ferocious winds and torrential rain – AFP
06:30pm
Melissa losing strength but remains Category 5
Hurricane Melissa is losing some strength but remains in Category 5 as it continues its path across Jamaica, the US National Hurricane Centre has said.
In a recent update, it said Melissa was moving across western Jamaica after making landfall near New Hope.
Maximum sustained winds are at around 165mph, 20mph lower than when Melissa made landfall.
A statement reads: “Continued weakening is expected while the centre is over Jamaica.
“However, Melissa is expected to reach southeastern Cuba as an extremely dangerous major hurricane, and it will still be a strong hurricane when it moves across the southeastern Bahamas.”
06:14pm
Residents evacuate in Cuba
Melissa was expected to make its way towards Cuba late Tuesday or early Wednesday as a category three hurricane.
Authorities there said they had evacuated upwards of 500,000 people from areas vulnerable to winds and flooding.
“There are no half measures,” Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said, urging residents in areas vulnerable to flooding, strong winds, and storm surges to evacuate and accept help.
“Melissa will arrive with force, and there’s great concern about what it could destroy in its wake,” he added.
Residents self-evacuate under pouring rain from Playa Siboney to safe locations ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Melissa – AFP
A resident of Playa Canizo sticks out his hand to hitch a ride to evacuate to a safe location – AFP
05:59pm
Strongest hurricane to hit Jamaica
Melissa has been declared one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record and the most powerful to ever hit Jamaica.
It is ranked first in terms of the strongest landfall with winds of 185 mph, matching the Labor Day Hurricane in the US in 1935 and Hurricane Dorian, which struck the Bahamas in 2019.
05:18pm
Storm ‘extremely dangerous and life-threatening’
Hurricane Melissa is “extremely dangerous and life-threatening”, the National Hurricane Centre warned after it made landfall in Jamaica.
Residents were warned not to leave their shelter as the eye of the storm passes across the island.
“Winds will quickly and rapidly increase” on the other side of the eye, a statement from the NHC reads.
Men remove a loose section of roof in Kingston, Jamaica, as Hurricane Melissa approaches earlier on Tuesday – AP
05:06pm
Hurricane Melissa makes landfall in Jamaica
Hurricane Melissa has made landfall at New Hope, southwestern Jamaica, hitting the island with winds of up to 185mph.
It is one of the most powerful hurricane landfalls on record in the Atlantic basin, the US National Hurricane Centre said.
04:18pm
Hurricane could ‘reshape coastline’
Hurricane Melissa could reshape the Jamaican coastline once it makes landfall, one weather expert has warned.
Alex DaSilva, AccuWeather’s lead hurricane expert, told Sky News the hurricane could “potentially change the way of life down there for many months and perhaps even years to come”.
“There’s going to be catastrophic damage…that’s going to reshape the coastline,” he said.
03:39pm
Winds reach 185mph
Winds are moving at 185mph as Hurricane Melissa prepares to make landfall in Jamaica.
Melissa will remain a category five storm – the strongest possible level – as it hits the island.
“There is no infrastructure in the region that can withstand a Category 5,” Andrew Holness, the Jamaican prime minister, said.
“The question now is the speed of recovery. That’s the challenge.”
03:12pm
Situation to get ‘significantly worse,’ warn authorities
The situation in Jamaica is expected to get “significantly worse” than what residents are experiencing right now, authorities have warned.
“You might be saying that this system does not seem to be packing much of a punch,” Evan Thompson said.
“The truth is it is still some distance from the coast.”
02:52pm
Storm expected to weaken as it crosses Jamaica
Melissa is expected to make its entry on the south-west coastline as a category five storm, before gradually weakening to category four as it crosses Jamaica.
Evan Thompson, from the Meteorological Service of Jamaica, said it could weaken to category three as it leaves the island.
02:17pm
‘This is the last chance to protect your life!’
Jamaicans have been given a final warning to “protect your life” as Hurricane Melissa prepares to make landfall.
The US National Hurricane Centre said “catastrophic” winds were moving onshore southern Jamaica and said Melissa was continuing to strengthen.
“This is the last chance to protect your life!” an ominous statement posted just after 2pm UK time reads.
02:10pm
UK mobilising resources, Yvette Cooper confirms
The Foreign Secretary has confirmed that the UK is mobilising resources to help Jamaica deal with the devastating effects of Hurricane Melissa.
Yvette Cooper told MPs: “Many people will be thinking of family and friends in Jamaica and in the region. I spoke with the Jamaican foreign minister yesterday to offer the UK’s full support and solidarity.
“We are prepared to mobilise resources at their request and the Foreign Office stands ready to help British nationals 24/7.”
01:54pm
In pictures: Jamaicans brace for Hurricane Melissa
A man walks in Kingston, Jamaica, as Hurricane Melissa approaches – AP
A man walks along the coastline in Kingston, Jamaica – AP
01:31pm
Why slow-moving storms are worse
Melissa had been moving at 2mph but it has now picked up to near 7mph, according to weather forecasts.
Slow-moving storms are worse because they last longer.
The slow movement of the hurricane also does not mean winds are slower, with Melissa sustaining speeds of 175mph as it prepares to make landfall.
01:07pm
Where will the hurricane hit?
Hurricane Melissa is expected to slice diagonally across the island, entering near St Elizabeth parish in the south and exiting around St Ann parish in the north, before heading for Cuba.
A life-threatening storm surge of up to 13 feet (4 meters) is expected across southern Jamaica.
Palm trees sway as Hurricane Melissa is expected to make landfall in Kingston, Jamaica – REUTERS
12:46pm
Hurricane-force winds to hit Jamaica in coming hours
Hurricane-force winds are expected to hit Jamaica in the coming hours, according to the US National Hurricane Centre.
The island has already faced tropical storm conditions, with Hurricane Melissa expected to make landfall “during the next several hours”.
Melissa is still classified as a category five hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 175 mph.
The hurricane is 55 miles (90 km) away from the island but hurricane-force winds will be felt up to 30 miles (45 km) from the centre, according to the NHC.
12:34pm
British holidaymaker in ‘full lockdown’ after flight cancelled
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A British holidaymaker has described being trapped in his hotel room on the island as a “very nerve-wracking experience”.
Andrew Tracey, 32, travelled to Jamaica for a week-long holiday with his friend on Oct 20.
He said TUI informed them that their flight home, which was supposed to take off yesterday, had been cancelled. The company has extended holidaymakers’ stay at the hotel and they remain on “full lockdown” in their rooms.
Mr Tracey, from Folkestone, Kent, said: “It’s a very nerve-wracking experience. The winds have got up quite considerably over the last few hours, there are some trees that have fallen that I can see from my balcony.
“And we are yet to get the full force of the storm yet. Food packages have been arriving when it’s been safe for staff to get to us – we are on full lockdown.
“We were told to put mattresses on the windows as the windows could fail, and to potentially consider locking ourselves in the bathroom for added safety.
“They have drained the pools, tied down ceiling fans, and the staff have been proactive with removing the bins and all sorts so it’s less of a threat.”
“We actually had a really nice time out here until Sunday when the hotel started winding down and they stopped selling alcohol. But people were still arriving even with the hurricane warning in place which is just crazy.”
12:21pm
Pictured: Eye of the storm approaches Jamaica
Hurricane Melissa is expected to make landfall soon and slice diagonally across the island
11:54am
5,000 Britons in Jamaica told to prepare for Melissa
Britons in Jamaica have been told to prepare as the island’s strongest storm on record closes in.
The UK Foreign Office has set up a crisis centre ready to help the 5,000 Britons reported to be on the Caribbean island and the Royal Navy ship HMS Trent is already in the region on stand-by.
All of Jamaica’s international airports have been closed until further notice.
An FCDO spokesperson said: “We are closely tracking Hurricane Melissa and have updated our travel advice for countries and territories across the region.
“In Jamaica, we are urging British nationals there to follow the guidance of the local authorities – especially in the event of any evacuation orders.”
They added: “We stand ready to support our partners and British nationals in the region.”
11:33am
Storm set to make landfall close to major urban centres
The storm is predicted to be Jamaica’s most destructive on record as the island nation hasn’t taken a direct hit from a hurricane in over a decade and never from a Category 5.
Dr Steve Godby, an expert in natural hazards at Nottingham Trent University, told The Telegraph: “It is the kind of storm few Jamaicans will have witnessed.”
He continued: “In 2007 I travelled to Jamaica with MapAction, a UK based NGO, to assist with the humanitarian response to Hurricane Dean.
“As a Category 5 storm, Dean had grazed the southern coast of the island and we saw informal housing in coastal districts levelled, trees stripped of leaves and branches and even concrete electricity pylons snapped.
“Unlike Dean, Melissa is heading for a landfall close to major population centres and will bring severe threats to people at the coast and inland this time.”
11:27am
What time will Melissa make landfall?
It is not clear exactly when Hurricane Melissa will make landfall on Jamaica.
The eye of the Category 5 storm had been forecast to hit the south-west of the island at 7am local time (12pm GMT).
It is expected to move north-east towards Cuba by 7pm this evening (12am GMT) as a reduced Category 4 storm, before heading towards the Bahamas around 7pm (12am GMT) on Wednesday as a Category 2.
10:57am
Watch: Strong gusts, big waves and fear on the Caribbean island
Credit: CSU/CIRA & NOAA
10:54am
‘The storm of the century for Jamaica’
The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) warned on Tuesday of a “catastrophic situation” expected in Jamaica as Hurricane Melissa makes landfall, bringing 180mph winds, flash floods and landslides.
“For Jamaica, it will be the storm of the century for sure,” WMO cyclone specialist Anne-Claire Fontan said at a Geneva press briefing.
She said that storm surges of up to four meters were expected during the day and that rainfall was set to exceed 70 centimetres or about twice the amount expected normal the entire rainy season. “It means there will be catastrophic flash flooding and landslides,” she said.
“It’s a catastrophic situation expected in Jamaica,” she added.
10:23am
Storm could impact 1.5 million people in Jamaica alone
Hurricane Melissa could affect 1.5 million people in Jamaica alone, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said Tuesday, warning of a “massive impact”.
“1.5 million people may be impacted,” Necephor Mghendi, the IFRC’s head of delegation for the English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean, told reporters, warning that number could be “an underestimate”.
“Roofs will be tested, floodwaters will rise, isolation will become a harsh reality for many.”
Over 800 shelters have been set up for evacuees from the worst-hit areas, he added.
“The main priority was to get people out of harm’s way to reduce the number of casualties.”
10:02am
Hurricane Melissa bears down on Jamaica – track live
09:52am
In pictures: Jamaicans wait for the storm
A woman video chats with a friend in an underground room ahead of the hurricane’s arrival – ap
Craig Brown wraps a gas pump as Melissa approaches – REUTERS
09:30am
Why is Melissa set to be so devastating?
Hurricane Melissa, the strongest storm of 2025, is a large and slow-moving hurricane fuelled by unusually hot ocean temperatures in the Caribbean.
Slow-moving
The hurricane is crawling west towards Jamaica at speeds of around 3mph. Its slow pace means it will subject places in its path to longer stretches of torrential rain, destructive winds and heightened storm surge.
“It’s this repetitive or continuous threat and existence in a dangerous situation,” Jill Trepanier, a hurricane climatology expert at Louisiana State University, said.
Its slow path also allowed it to strengthen substantially over the warm Caribbean waters through the weekend.
Warm waters
Ocean surface temperatures in the Caribbean are unusually high – two to three degrees above normal – and tropical storms are fuelled by the top layer of water.
The warm waters injected energy into Melissa, allowing it to rapidly intensify from a tropical storm into a Category 5 hurricane.
Warmer oceans also mean wetter storms because warm air can hold more moisture, threatening more torrential rain and flash floods.
Climate change
Melissa is the third storm this hurricane season to strengthen into Category 5, the second-highest total for any season on record, part of a trend of more intense Atlantic storms.
Scientists warn that storms are becoming stronger faster as a result of climate change warming ocean waters, piling up fuel for seasonal storms.
“We haven’t had that many hurricanes in the Atlantic this season, but an unusual proportion of them went through a phase of intensifying quite rapidly,” meteorologist and climate scientist Kerry Emanuel of MIT said. “This may very well be collectively a signature of climate change,” he said.
09:02am
‘Catastrophic’ flooding, 175mph winds and 3ft of rain expected
The US National Hurricane Center late on Monday warned that the winds at the eye of Hurricane Melissa are so strong they could cause “total structural failure”.
The NHC warned of “catastrophic” flash flooding, landslides and destructive winds. Some parts of Jamaica were already cut off by Monday evening.
In the NHC latest warning, it said: “Conditions deteriorating on Jamaica as extremely dangerous Category 5 Melissa slowly approaches… catastrophic winds, flash flooding and storm surge expected on the island today…”
08:38am
Foreign Office urges Brits to reach shelters
The Foreign Office has urged British nationals to head to their nearest hurricane shelter.
Yvette Cooper, the Foreign Secretary, said she had spoken to her Jamaican counterpart, Kamina Smith, to “offer our support” and was monitoring the path of the hurricane.
The US embassy in Jamaica has advised American citizens to be ready to shelter in place throughout the “dangerous storm”.
08:32am
Mapped: Melissa’s expected path
08:30am
52,000 Jamaicans lose power before storm lands
Up to 52,000 people in Jamaica have already lost power before the one of the strongest storms recorded in the Atlantic makes landfall.
Jamaica Public Service said that power had already been restored to more than 30,000 of those affected.
“We are working to connect the remaining customers, however, in some areas, heavy rain and difficult terrain are creating access challenges,” it added.
“We stand with you. Please stay safe and stay indoors.”
08:22am
Weather is ‘getting a bit wild’, says British holidaymaker
A British holidaymaker has told how the weather is “getting a bit wild” in Jamaica, writes Robert White.
Rebecca Chapman, who arrived at a hotel half an hour away from Montego Bay in the north of the island on Thursday, said it had been turned into a “ghost town” ahead of the hurricane.
The hotel had boarded its windows and strapped chandeliers to columns throughout the hotel, removing light bulbs and outside furniture to minimise damage.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Mrs Chapman said: “We arrived very late on Thursday and almost as soon as we got here, things were starting to be put in place, so some of the restaurants were closed as soon as we arrived, the beaches were closed when we arrived.”
“As the days have gone on, they’ve shut down more and more of the hotel. Most of it is now boarded up,” she said, adding that “anything that can be moved has gone”.
Ms Chapman described the sea looking looks like “a stormy Norfolk Sea” with 6ft waves crashing on the beach, she added.
“There’s lots of debris already in the sea, and the beaches, and there’s a weird rumbling noise that feels like it’s coming from the horizon which is really ominous.”
08:03am
Watch: Satellite footage shows Hurricane Melissa strengthening
Credit: CSU/CIRA & NOAA
07:53am
Jamaican PM: ‘I’ve been on my knees in prayer’
Andrew Holness, the Jamaican prime minister, said: “I have been on my knees in prayer”.
Mr Holness told CNN that should the hurricane make landfall, recovery efforts will take “far more resources than Jamaica has” and that he anticipates “major damage to our road infrastructure, bridges, drains, and possible some damage to ports and airports”.
The west of the island is expected to bear the brunt of the storm. “I don’t believe there is any infrastructure within this region that could withstand a Category 5 storm, so there could be significant dislocation,” Mr Holness added.
Towns and cities may be left without power and communications for days after the storm passes.
07:50am
In pictures: Jamaica starts to feel the effects of Hurricane Mellisa
A man walks by a house damaged by the preliminary winds of Hurricane Melissa – Shutterstock Editorial
A fallen light pole blocks the road near Portmore – AFP
High winds and heavy rain has started to batter the island before the storm makes landfall – REUTERS
07:43am
Watch: ‘Hurricane Hunters’ fly into eye of storm
A US Air Force Reserve crew, known as the “Hurricane Hunters”, flew into the eye of Hurricane Melissa on Monday to collect data for the US National Hurricane Center.
07:40am
Officials urge public to seek shelter now
Authorities are concerned that locals are ignoring the warnings to seek shelter and deciding to stay put.
By Monday evening, fewer than 1,000 people were in the island’s 880 hurricane shelters.
They “should be seeing people now”, Desmond McKenzie, a government minister said. “I want to urge persons in these parishes to get to high ground as quickly as possible.”
Daryl Vaz, the Jamaican transport minister, said: “It’s way, way below what is required for a Category 5 hurricane.”
“If you are not [smart], unfortunately, you will pay the consequences,” he warned.
07:37am
Three dead as Jamaica braces for mass destruction
At least three people have died in Jamaica as the island braces for the world’s strongest storm this year to make landfall this morning.
Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, has been increasing in strength as it barrels towards the Caribbean nation, threatening to bring “catastrophic and life-threatening” conditions.
Three people died and 13 were injured while preparing for the hurricane by cutting down trees and working on ladders, officials said.
Melissa, one of the strongest storms ever recorded in the Atlantic, has also killed at least three people in Haiti and a fourth person in the Dominican Republic.
Hurricane Melissa’s centre is forecast to move over Jamaica on Tuesday, dumping up to a metre of rain in some parts, before striking south-east Cuba on Tuesday night and the Bahamas on Wednesday.
The capital of Kingston has been ordered to evacuation along with other low-lying, flood-prone areas.
