On October 28, 2025, Hurricane Melissa Jamaica made landfall as a Category 5 storm—the strongest ever recorded to strike the country in modern times. According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC), Melissa peaked with sustained winds near 185 mph and a central pressure of 892 mb, placing it among the most intense hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic basin. Wikipedia

The storm’s slow forward motion allowed it to unload massive rainfall and intensify before landfall, making the impact especially damaging. Reports indicate flash floods, landslides, and coastal storm surge battered southern parishes in particular. Early fatality numbers are still emerging, but Melissa already ranks as one of Jamaica’s most severe natural disasters. People.com

Jamaica’s Meteorological Service (JMS / Met Service of Jamaica) maintains active coordination with the NHC during hurricane season and issues forecasts, alerts, and radar monitoring to detect developing tropical systems. The national hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, with peak activity typically in September–October. Jamaica Weather

Meanwhile, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) in Jamaica prepared shelters, issued evacuation orders for high-risk coastal and riverine zones, and disseminated public information through media and parish disaster coordinators. ODPEM

Why Hurricanes Form — And Why They’re Getting Stronger

The basics of hurricane genesis:

Hurricanes form when warm ocean surface temperatures—generally above 26 °C (79 °F)—fuel intense convection. Moist air rises, condenses, and releases latent heat, which further lowers pressure and draws in more warm, moist air. This positive feedback loop can gradually organize into a tropical depression, then a tropical storm, and—if conditions permit—into a full hurricane. Wind shear (vertical change in wind speed/direction), dry air intrusion, and unfavorable upper‐level winds can inhibit development. ODPEM describes how storm surge, torrential rain, and wind combine in the destructive structure of hurricanes, with the “eye” region sometimes deceptively calm while destructive winds swirl around it. ODPEM

Climate change and hurricane intensification

While climate change doesn’t “cause” any single storm outright, a growing body of research and observations suggests several mechanisms that amplify hurricane danger:

• Warmer sea surface temperatures provide more energy for storm intensification. Simple Actions to Tackle Environmental Changes
• A higher moisture content in the atmosphere allows storms to produce heavier rainfall and extend flooding farther inland.
• Reduced wind shear in certain tropical regions enables storms to maintain coherence and intensify.
• Rising sea levels make storm surge more damaging because baseline water levels are already elevated.

In short, in today’s warmer, moister world, hurricanes are more prone to rapid intensification, stronger wind fields, and heavier rain burdens than in past decades.

How Jamaica Prepared & What You Should Do

What Jamaican authorities did

• The Jamaica Met Service issued timely tropical storm and hurricane watches and warnings as Melissa approached. Jamaica Gleaner
• The prime minister and ministers publicly urged compliance with evacuation orders, especially in seven high-risk communities. Jamaica Information Service
• ODPEM and parish disaster coordinators opened hundreds of shelters, held press briefings, and activated disaster response plans. ODPEM
• Security forces and public utilities mobilized to protect infrastructure, assist with evacuations, and ready backup power systems. The Independent

What individuals, families & visitors should do

Here’s a practical, ready-to-use checklist:

✅ Action	Why it matters	Tips
Monitor official sources	Stay informed of path, intensity, watches/warnings	Use the Jamaica Met Service, ODPEM websites, radio, and apps
Secure your home	Prevent wind / water damage	Board windows, bring outside items inside, and reinforce doors
Prepare a “go-bag”	Be ready for evacuation	Include water (3+ days), food, meds, flashlight, batteries, and important documents
Evacuate if ordered	Don’t wait until it’s too late	Roads may flood or become blocked
Avoid floodwaters & downed lines	They’re lethal even after the storm	Stay out of the streets; report hazards to authorities

After the storm passes, continue to proceed cautiously: avoid damaged structures, do not wade through floodwaters, and follow updates as recovery operations begin.

Countries / Areas Most Prone to Hurricanes

• The Atlantic‐Caribbean basin: Countries in the Caribbean Sea (e.g., Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Cuba) and the U.S. Gulf & Atlantic coasts are regularly hit. For example, one risk index lists the Dominican Republic as the highest‐scoring country for storm exposure in Latin America/Caribbean. Climate Cosmos
• Also vulnerable: Central American coastal states, Mexico’s east coast, and to some extent parts of coastal Africa or Asia with tropical cyclone risk (though terminology differs).
• Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are particularly vulnerable due to geography (low elevation, reliance on a few sectors) and limited recovery resources.

Why do these areas face a high risk

• Warm tropical waters fuel hurricanes; many of these countries sit in that zone.
• Many have coastlines with high population densities, low‐lying land, and critical infrastructure exposed.
• Limited resources/infrastructure resilience in some places make the consequences worse.

How Future Losses Can Be Avoided or Reduced

• Invest in high‐quality early warning systems, so that evacuations and closures can happen in time.
• Public education: ensure citizens know what to do when a warning is issued (evacuate, secure home, etc.).
• Emergency planning: shelters, backup power, supply of essentials ahead of storms.
• Enforce building codes designed for high winds and flooding.
• Protect coastal buffers: restore mangroves, coral reefs, and dunes that absorb storm surge.
• Avoid heavy development in extremely vulnerable zones unless disaster‐resilient.
• Upgrade critical infrastructure (electricity, roads, telecommunications) so they can survive, or recover quickly.
• Encourage insurance coverage for wind/storm damage; build financial reserves for disaster recovery.
• International financing and grants for vulnerable small states help share the burden.
• Use risk models and mapping to target the most significant vulnerabilities.
• Since climate change is increasing hurricane intensities (warmer oceans, more moisture), reducing greenhouse gas emissions helps in the long term.
• Adaptation: incorporate future climate projections into planning (not just historical data).
• Build community resilience: diversify economies (so one storm doesn’t wipe out the major livelihoods), strengthen social safety nets.
• Ensure evacuation routes and shelters are accessible to vulnerable populations (elderly, disabled, children).
• Post-storm recovery plans that include rapid restoration of services (water, power, communications) to reduce long‐term losses.
• Continuous drills and updating of emergency plans.

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