Hurricane Melissa facts for kids
Melissa at peak intensity shortly before landfall in Jamaica on October 28
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| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | October 21, 2025 |
| Extratropical | October 31, 2025 |
| Dissipated | November 4, 2025 |
| Category 5 tropical cyclone | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
| Highest winds | 185 mph (295 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 892 mbar (hPa); 26.34 inHg (Tied for third-lowest in the Atlantic basin) |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 102 total |
| Injuries | 141 |
| Missing | 27 |
| Damage | $10 billion (2025 USD) (Costliest in Jamaican history) |
| Areas affected |
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Part of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season |
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Hurricane Melissa was an extremely powerful and destructive tropical cyclone. It happened in October 2025. It was the strongest storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. Melissa became the third-most intense Atlantic hurricane ever recorded. It is tied with the famous 1935 Labor Day hurricane.
Melissa was the thirteenth named storm of the season. It was also the fifth hurricane and the third Category 5 hurricane. A Category 5 storm is the strongest type of hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson scale. The storm caused catastrophic damage when it hit the island of Jamaica. It was the strongest hurricane ever recorded to hit Jamaica. It was even stronger than Hurricane Gilbert from 1988.
Scientists measured very high wind speeds inside the storm. One gust of wind was measured at 252 mph (406 km/h). This set a new world record for wind gusts measured by a special instrument called a dropsonde. Climate scientists studied Melissa. They found that climate change made the ocean water warmer. This warm water gave the hurricane more energy, making its winds and rain much stronger.
Contents
Storm History
The storm started as a tropical wave near West Africa on October 16. It moved across the Atlantic Ocean to the Caribbean Sea. On October 21, it organized into Tropical Storm Melissa. At first, the storm moved slowly and did not get much stronger. This was because of wind shear, which disrupts the structure of a storm.
However, conditions changed on October 25. The wind shear decreased, and the ocean water was very warm. Melissa began a process called rapid intensification. This means it got very strong, very fast. In just 18 hours, its wind speeds doubled. By October 27, Melissa was a Category 5 hurricane.
On October 28, Melissa hit New Hope, Jamaica. At that time, it had maximum sustained winds of 160 kn (180 mph; 300 km/h). The air pressure inside the storm was very low, at 892 mbar. Lower pressure usually means a more intense storm.
After hitting Jamaica, Melissa weakened slightly. It then hit Cuba on October 29 as a Category 3 hurricane. It crossed Cuba and moved back into the Atlantic Ocean. It moved north towards Bermuda and weakened. By October 31, it was no longer a tropical hurricane. Its remnants moved north near Newfoundland and faded away on November 4.
Records Set by Melissa
- It was the strongest tropical cyclone in the world for the year 2025.
- It had the highest wind gust ever measured by a dropsonde (252 mph (406 km/h)).
- It is tied for the third-lowest pressure ever recorded in an Atlantic hurricane.
- It was the strongest hurricane to ever make landfall in Jamaica.
How Climate Change Affected the Storm
Hurricanes use warm ocean water as fuel. When Melissa formed, the water was about 1.4 °C (2.5 °F) warmer than normal. Scientists say this extra heat was caused by human-driven climate change. This extra heat allowed Melissa to grow very strong, very quickly. Studies estimate that climate change increased the storm's wind speed by 10 mph (16 km/h). It also made the rainfall about 10% heavier.
Preparing for the Storm
In the Caribbean
Governments in the Caribbean issued warnings before the storm arrived. Jamaica and Haiti issued hurricane watches and warnings starting October 21. Cruise ships had to change their paths to avoid the storm. Ships like the Disney Treasure and Icon of the Seas went to different ports to keep passengers safe. Airlines cancelled 167 flights across the region.
In the Dominican Republic, people moved to shelters. The government put 12 provinces on red alert. In Cuba, the government evacuated 735,000 people from dangerous areas. The United States Navy also moved people away from the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base.
Preparations in Jamaica
Jamaica took many steps to get ready. The government sent buses to help people evacuate. They cleaned out drains to prevent flooding. The National Water Commission made sure people had clean drinking water. Schools, museums, and airports were closed on October 25.
Many people went to emergency shelters. However, there was some confusion. Some people went to a high school that was not an official shelter. By October 27, about 1,700 people were in shelters.
In Other Areas
Other islands also prepared. Trinidad and Tobago and Martinique issued weather alerts. In the Bahamas, people evacuated from southern islands like Acklins and Inagua. The United Kingdom sent a navy ship, the HMS Trent, to help the Turks and Caicos Islands.
In Bermuda, the government closed the airport and bus services on October 30. They opened a shelter at a local academy.
Impact of the Storm
| Country | Deaths | Injuries | Missing | Damage (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cuba |
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Unknown |
| Dominican Republic |
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Unknown |
| Haiti |
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Unknown |
| Jamaica |
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| Total | 102 | 141 | 27 | $10 billion |
Hurricane Melissa caused a lot of damage. It destroyed homes, flooded towns, and hurt many people. Sadly, 102 people lost their lives across the Caribbean. The total damage is estimated at around US$10 billion.
Impact on Hispaniola
In Haiti, heavy rains caused floods and landslides. The La Digue River overflowed and swept away cars and homes. The town of Petit-Goâve was covered in mud and debris. In total, 43 people died in Haiti. Many schools and hospitals were damaged.
In the Dominican Republic, the rain damaged water systems. More than 1.1 million people lost access to tap water. Floods also damaged roads and bridges. Four people died in the country.
Impact on Jamaica
Jamaica was hit the hardest. The storm made landfall as a Category 5 hurricane. This caused total destruction in some areas.
- Buildings: About 150,000 buildings were damaged. The storm blew the roofs off of 120,000 homes. In the town of Black River, nearly 90% of homes lost their roofs.
- Flooding: Heavy rain and storm surge caused severe flooding. In Mandeville, water covered houses up to their roofs. The Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay was flooded and damaged.
- Power and Communication: The storm knocked out electricity for most of the island. Communication was cut off in the hardest-hit parishes like Saint Elizabeth and Westmoreland.
- Agriculture: Farmers lost crops and animals. Banana and plantain farms were destroyed. This caused a loss of about US$184 million in agriculture.
Sadly, 54 people died in Jamaica. The damage was estimated at US$10 billion, which is a large part of the country's economy.
Impact on Cuba
Melissa hit eastern Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane. It caused flooding and landslides. In the province of Santiago de Cuba, streets were buried in debris. About 992,000 houses were damaged in the region. The storm also damaged the electrical grid, leaving many people without power for weeks. One person died in Cuba.
Other Areas
- The Bahamas: The storm brought strong winds and flooding. Long Island had severe flooding and damage to its power station.
- Bermuda: The island experienced strong wind gusts up to 98 mph (158 km/h). About half of the island lost power, but damage was mostly minor.
- United States: The storm did not hit the US directly, but its moisture caused heavy rain in New York. Central Park set a daily rainfall record.
Recovery and Aftermath
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After the storm, countries and organizations worked together to help the affected areas.
Help for Jamaica
The United States and Jamaican military forces delivered supplies to hard-to-reach areas. The government bought 5,000 special container homes for people who lost their houses. They also paused mortgage payments for some families to help them recover financially.
Many groups donated money and supplies:
- The World Bank and other banks announced a support package of US$6.7 billion to help Jamaica rebuild over the next three years.
- Companies like Disney and American Airlines donated millions of dollars.
- Sports teams and celebrities, like the Miami Heat and Arthur Blank, also gave money for food and water.
- The United Nations and World Food Programme distributed food to thousands of people.
There were some health problems after the storm. Mosquitoes spread diseases like chikungunya and dengue fever because of the standing water. Doctors worked hard to treat the sick.
Tragically, a small plane carrying relief workers crashed in Florida on November 10. Two people on a mission to help Jamaica lost their lives.
Help for Other Countries
The US government sent $24 million to help countries like Haiti, the Bahamas, and Cuba. The United Nations asked for $74 million to help people in Cuba. Countries like China sent supplies and solar panels to help restore power.
Despite the damage, the Dominican Republic saw more tourists later in the year because other islands were too damaged to visit.
Images for kids
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Flooding caused by Melissa in the Bahamas
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See also
In Spanish: Huracán Melissa para niños
- Weather of 2025
- Tropical cyclones in 2025
- List of Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes
- Hurricanes in Hispaniola
- List of Jamaica hurricanes
- List of Cuba hurricanes
