Hurricane Melissa became a catastrophic Category 5 storm after rapidly intensifying over the Caribbean, developing an exceptionally powerful core and a clearly defined eye. At its peak, sustained winds reached around 190 mph, placing Melissa among the strongest Atlantic hurricanes ever recorded.

The hurricane struck Jamaica on October 28, 2025, bringing destructive winds, extreme rainfall, flooding, and a dangerous storm surge. Melissa made landfall near New Hope in southwestern Jamaica with winds around 185 mph, becoming the strongest hurricane on record to make landfall on the island.

Communities across Jamaica suffered extensive destruction, while Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and other parts of the Caribbean also experienced serious effects from the enormous weather system. The hurricane ultimately caused more than 90 deaths across the affected countries.

Melissa became so historically destructive that the World Meteorological Organization officially retired its name in March 2026, meaning another Atlantic tropical cyclone will never be named Melissa. The replacement name selected for the rotating list was Molly.

Despite posts suggesting that Hurricane Melissa is forming again, Melissa is not a current 2026 hurricane. As of September 7, 2026, the National Hurricane Center reports no tropical cyclones in the Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, or Gulf, and Melissa refers to the devastating Category 5 hurricane from 2025.