Overview

Hurricane ‌Melissa, currently a Category 4 storm, is moving slowly towards Jamaica and the island of⁤ Hispaniola, posing a critically important threat to both regions. The storm has already caused​ fatalities and displacement in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

impact‍ on hispaniola

Hurricane Melissa’s outer bands have already brought heavy rainfall and landslides to Haiti, resulting in at least three deaths this week. The impoverished nation is particularly vulnerable to such disasters. ​In ‌the dominican‌ Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, a 79-year-old man died after being swept away by a stream on Saturday, october 26, 2025, and a 13-year-old boy is reported missing.⁢ Angelita Francisco, a ‌66-year-old resident, described‍ the ‌feeling of helplessness as she evacuated⁢ her neighborhood.

Jamaica Braces​ for Impact

The Jamaican⁤ government announced yesterday evening that it would close all schools and urged the public‍ not to travel unnecessarily. The Jamaica Data Service, a government agency, confirmed on Saturday, October 26, ‍2025, that all seaports had been closed in planning for the storm.

Melissa is the 13th named storm ​of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, ‌which runs from June 1st to November 30th. The National Hurricane ⁢Centre (NHC) is providing regular updates on ‌the storm’s location, intensity, and projected path.

Recent Hurricane History in Jamaica

The last major hurricane to significantly impact Jamaica​ was Beryl in ‌early July 2024.Beryl was an unusually strong storm for that time of year, bringing heavy downpours and strong winds to the island’s southern coast and‍ tragically resulting in at least four fatalities. This recent experience underscores Jamaica’s vulnerability‍ to powerful hurricanes.

Atlantic ​Hurricane Season‍ 2025

The 2025 Atlantic ‌hurricane season has ‌been more active than ​average, with several storms forming earlier in the season. ​ experts attribute this ​increased activity to warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the ⁣Atlantic Ocean and favorable atmospheric conditions. The following table summarizes the named storms of the 2025 season as of October 26,​ 2025: