Hurricane Melissa Becomes Category 5 Ahead Of Historic Landfall In Jamaica

Early Monday morning saw Hurricane Melissa become a monstrous Category 5 hurricane as the Caribbean storm is still on track to blast Jamaica with powerful storm surge, strong winds and flash flooding that will be life-threatening.

According to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Melissa has 160 mph maximum sustained winds with gusts reaching higher speeds. More strengthening is possible prior to making expected Jamaican landfall Tuesday morning.

The latest developments follow Hurricane Melissa undergoing “extreme rapid intensification” over the weekend while millions of people in the Caribbean urgently prepare for storm impacts. (RELATED: Multiple Tornadoes Tear Through American South, Violent System To Contribute To Halloween East Coast Storm)

With Melissa strengthening, the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season now has the second-most Category 5 hurricanes to develop with three, placed just after the 2005 season that featured four.

Before 2025, the 2005 season was the only one ever recorded that generated more than two hurricanes at Category 5 strength.

10/27 5am EDT: #Melissa has strengthened to a Category 5 hurricane with 160 mph winds and a 917 mb central pressure, confirmed by the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters. Conditions in #Jamaica will rapidly deteriorate later today and tonight. Here are the key messages:

See… pic.twitter.com/pMRRQdyOqU

— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) October 27, 2025

This is a developing story. Stay with the Daily Caller for updates.