Hurricane Melissa’s exceptional power, endurance and ability to overcome obstacles stunned meteorologists. Here’s what to know.

The intensity of a hurricane is measured by its maximum sustained wind speed, and when that speed increases by at least 35 miles per hour in a 24-hour period — or roughly two categories on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale — meteorologists call that “rapid intensification.”

Melissa underwent extreme rapid intensification, strengthening to a rare Category 5 with winds of 175 mph and stronger gusts, making it the strongest storm on the planet this year. Follow for live updates.

Now, after days of torrential rainfall and strong winds, seven reported fatalities, and with maximum sustained wind speeds reaching a devastating 185 mph, Melissa has made history as the first Category 5 hurricane in recorded history to make landfall in Jamaica. Live updates: Hurricane Melissa makes landfall in Jamaica as powerful Category 5 storm

The prime minister ordered mandatory evacuations as officials braced for tens of thousands to be displaced. Three people were killed and 13 others injured during preparations for the storm, the health minister said.

M YRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) - Hurricane Melissa will make landfall in Jamaica in the next hour or two. Melissa is expected to make a second landfall in Cuba early Wednesday morning and its third landfall in the Bahamas Wednesday into Thursday. Melissa is now tied for the 3rd strongest hurricane to ever be recorded.

Hurricane Melissa, the most powerful storm of the 2025 Atlantic season, made landfall in Jamaica Tuesday as possibly its worst storm in recorded history.

Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica, maintaining its Category 5 intensity with devastating winds, flooding rains and storm surge spreading across the Caribbean.

Category 5 Hurricane Melissa set a collision course early Tuesday with Jamaica and made landfall at New Hope, Jamaica, on the island country’s southwest coast at peak strength around noontime local on Tuesday.

At least 20 people in Haiti died Wednesday when a river overflowed. The storm was expected to hit the Bahamas next.

The number of storms that leap from Category 1 to Category 3 or higher within 36 hours “more than doubled” over a 20-year period.