Hurricane Melissa Strikes as a Category 5 Storm: Assessing Potential Impact on the U.S.

Share this @internewscast.com

In a remarkable turn of events, Hurricane Melissa has intensified to one of the most formidable storms ever recorded in the Atlantic, achieving the rare and ominous status of a Category 5 hurricane as of Monday. The National Hurricane Center has issued warnings as the “extremely dangerous” hurricane targets Jamaica, with an anticipated impact on Tuesday.

As of 1 p.m. ET, Hurricane Melissa had already struck land in New Hope, Jamaica, unleashing powerful winds reaching 185 mph, according to the NHC. This unprecedented force has put the region on high alert, with residents bracing for the storm’s full impact.

The storm is currently progressing at a sluggish pace of approximately 9 mph in a north-northeast direction. This slow movement means Melissa is expected to linger over Jamaica throughout Tuesday, before potentially shifting its course toward southeastern Cuba by Wednesday morning.

Rebecca Barry, a meteorologist with Nexstar’s WFLA, expressed her astonishment on “Tracking the Tropics,” noting, “It’s unusual for a storm to move this slowly for such an extended period.” She likened the winds to those of a tornado, emphasizing that the prolonged duration of such intense conditions is unprecedented.

Waves splash in Kingston, Jamaica, as Hurricane Melissa approaches, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness highlighted the dire situation, stating, “There is no infrastructure in the region that can withstand a Category 5.” The prime minister underscored the critical task ahead, adding, “The question now is the speed of recovery. That’s the challenge.”

Massive wind damage is expected in Melissa’s core and Jamaica’s highest mountains could see gusts of up to 200 mph, said Michael Brennan, director of the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.

“It’s going to be a very dangerous scenario,” he said, warning that there would be “total building failures.”

Melissa is the fifth most intense Atlantic basin hurricane on record by pressure and the strongest to make landfall since Hurricane Dorian in 2019, according to hurricane specialist and storm surge expert Michael Lowry.

With as close as Jamaica and Cuba are to the U.S. — Havana, Cuba, is just over 100 miles away from Key West, Florida — it’s difficult not to wonder whether Melissa will impact the U.S.

Thankfully, current forecasting suggests that isn’t the case.

The latest experimental cone from the NHC shows Melissa is expected to move through Jamaica, Cuba, and the Bahamas, then travel northward through the Atlantic without reaching the East Coast.

The forecasted track for Hurricane Melissa, which made landfall in Jamaica on Oct. 28, 2025, as a Category 5 storm. (National Hurricane Center)

It’s the poor weather those along the East Coast are experiencing Tuesday that’s helping to keep Melissa away, according to Wes Hohenstein, the chief meteorologist for Nexstar’s WNCN. The region is reporting cool temperatures with breezy conditions and rain in some areas.

“A lot of us are complaining on the East Coast today because we’ve got horrible weather, but it’s that horrible weather, jet stream dip that’s keeping the system away from the United States,” Hohenstein explained during “Tracking the Tropics.”

Only one storm, Chantal, has reached the U.S. this Atlantic hurricane season.

The tropical storm brought severe weather to South Carolina, North Carolina, and into Virginia after making landfall in early July. Others in the northeast also saw the impacts of Chantal.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Share this @internewscast.com

Facebook X Reddit Pinterest

Hurricane Melissa Strikes as a Category 5 Storm: Assessing Potential Impact on the U.S.

Up next

Desperate Search Underway for Missing 11-Year-Old Boy Amidst Mother’s Shocking Claims

Author

Internewscast

Tags

Share this @internewscast.com

Get Your Holiday Ham: Pratt’s Now at Select Food City Locations!

Seal Makes Daring Escape from Orcas by Leaping onto Photographer’s Boat

Spanish Soccer Scandal: Ex-Boss Rubiales Pelted with Eggs by Uncle at Book Launch

Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys Unite for Thrilling New Series ‘The Beast in Me

Brave 8-Year-Old’s 911 Call Uncovers Shocking Overdose Case in Volusia County: Father Arrested

Greeneville Resident Admits Involvement in Disturbing Monkey Video Plot

BWXT Expansion in Jonesborough: December Community Meeting to Address Resident Concerns

Join the Race: Register Now for Bristol’s YWCA Turkey Trot and Get Ready for a Fun-Filled Fitness Event!

YWCA Sets Bold Plans to Boost Women’s Empowerment in the Coming Year

Shocking Epstein Emails Uncover Connections with Powerful Individuals Post-Conviction

Tri-Cities Businesses and Credit Unions Adapt to Economic Shift as Penny Production Ceases

November Deer Crashes: Sullivan and Washington Counties Rank Among Tennessee’s Most Hazardous

Unexpected Menstrual Cessation Linked to Underrecognized Hormonal Condition Affecting Thousands of Women: Key Symptoms to Watch For

Silenced Voices: Survey Reveals Conservative Students at Brown University Fear Speaking Out

Veteran Fighter Pilot Ends 45-Year Silence, Unveils Startling UFO Encounter

Safety Concerns Lead to Cancellation of Free Amyl and the Sniffers Concert in Melbourne

Hurricane Melissa Strikes as a Category 5 Storm: Assessing Potential Impact on the U.S.

Up next

Author

Internewscast

Tags

Share this @internewscast.com

You May Also Like