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Hurricane Melissa, 2025

Hurricane Melissa Brings Devastation to Jamaica, Haiti, and Cuba

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Hurricane Melissa tore through western Jamaica, Cuba, and Haiti, causing widespread destruction and loss of life. The Category 5 hurricane made landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday, bringing with it 185 mph winds and totals of 12 to 24 inches of rain. The Jamaican government reported that 77 percent of homes had no electricity, and over 400,000 people were affected by the hurricane.

In Haiti, at least 20 people died when the La Digue river overflowed, and over 13,900 people took refuge in temporary shelters. The U.S. military and State Department are assessing needs in the region and deploying disaster assistance and search-and-rescue teams. The Jamaican government has requested assistance, and the U.S. is in close contact with the governments of Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and the Bahamas.

Key Takeaways:

  • Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday as a Category 5 hurricane with 185 mph winds, causing widespread destruction and loss of life.
  • The storm brought totals of 12 to 24 inches of rain, with some isolated areas seeing up to 30 inches.
  • Over 400,000 people were affected by the hurricane, and 77 percent of homes in Jamaica had no electricity.
  • In Haiti, at least 20 people died when the La Digue river overflowed, and over 13,900 people took refuge in temporary shelters.
  • The U.S. military and State Department are assessing needs in the region and deploying disaster assistance and search-and-rescue teams.
  • The Jamaican government has requested assistance, and the U.S. is in close contact with the governments of Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and the Bahamas.
  • The storm passed through Cuba, causing widespread flooding and power outages, with over 735,000 people evacuated by Tuesday night.
  • Hurricane Melissa made its final landfall in the central or southeastern Bahamas late Wednesday, bringing heavy rains and a possible storm surge of 5 to 8 feet.
  • The storm is expected to pass just south of Newfoundland, Canada, late Friday or early Saturday before being shredded apart by the jet stream.

Statistics:

  • 185 mph: the wind speed of Hurricane Melissa when it made landfall in Jamaica.
  • 12-24 inches: the total amount of rain brought by the storm in some areas.
  • 30 inches: the isolated maximum amount of rain seen in some areas.
  • 77 percent: the percentage of homes in Jamaica with no electricity after the storm.
  • 400,000: the number of people affected by the hurricane in Jamaica.
  • 13,900: the number of people taking refuge in temporary shelters in Haiti.
  • 20: the number of people killed in Haiti when the La Digue river overflowed.
  • 735,000: the number of people evacuated in Cuba by Tuesday night.
  • 5-8 feet: the possible storm surge expected in the southeastern Bahamas.

Sources:

  • "Hurricane Melissa makes landfall in Cuba as a Category 3 storm" by The Washington Post
  • "Hurricane Melissa brings devastation to Jamaica, Haiti, and Cuba" by CNN
  • "Hurricane Melissa Update: Storm Brings Devastation to Jamaica, Haiti, and Cuba" by NBC News
  • "Hurricane Melissa crosses Jamaica as one of the strongest storms on record in the Atlantic basin" by The Washington Post
  • "Hurricane Melissa: At Least 20 Dead, 13,900 Displaced in Haiti" by The New York Times

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