Caribbean braces for impact as Melissa surges into a Category 4 hurricane

France 24CenterEN 2 min read 100% complete by FRANCE 24October 26, 2025 at 09:28 PM

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

Hurricane Melissa, a Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of up to 220km/h, is expected to make landfall in Jamaica on Monday night or Tuesday morning, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC). The hurricane has already caused at least four fatalities across the Caribbean. With catastrophic flooding, landslides, and storm surges anticipated, Jamaican authorities have closed both international airports and activated 881 shelters nationwide. The NHC predicts that Jamaica and southern Hispaniola will receive between 15 to 30 inches of rain, with localized areas possibly seeing up to 40 inches. Eastern Cuba is also expected to experience significant rainfall.

Key Topics & Entities

US National Hurricane Center (NHC) 50% Kingston ×260% Caribbean ×270% Jamaica ×380% Hurricane Melissa ×6100%

Keywords

hurricane melissa 100% category 4 hurricane 90% caribbean 80% jamaica 70% landfall 60% storm surges 50% catastrophic flooding 50% international airports closed 40% residents evacuate 40% evacuation order 40%