Hurricane Melissa, one of the most intense storms in Atlantic history, made a catastrophic landfall on Jamaica’s southwestern coast Tuesday afternoon, bringing with it winds, rain, and destruction of near-unprecedented scale.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) confirmed that Melissa came ashore at 1:00 p.m. ET near New Hope, Jamaica as a Category 5 hurricane — the highest classification on the Saffir-Simpson scale — with sustained winds of 185 mph and gusts exceeding 220 mph. While the storm has since weakened slightly to a Category 4 with 150 mph winds, its damage was already done. Melissa now holds rank as the third-strongest hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic basin.
Black River is a wreck. The river, the sea, and road are all in one. Just water. The hospital is damaged. Almost every roof is gone. The Black River Bridge is badly damaged I’m told. Catastrophic.
— Chrissy (@Chrissy__Dee) October 28, 2025
In Black River, one of the hardest-hit towns, the storm’s full fury was on display. Eyewitness accounts described the town as “a wreck,” with “almost every roof” torn away by the raw power of Melissa’s eyewall. Wind speeds here approached the storm’s peak intensity, flattening buildings and toppling infrastructure.
A viral video from the Jamaica Observer captured the aftermath at the local Jamaica Public Service (JPS) office, its roof completely ripped off, with the interior exposed to the elements and debris strewn across the surrounding streets.
The JPS office in Black River was left without a roof and severely damaged as Hurricane Melissa roared ashore in St Elizabeth late Tuesday morning.
According to the Meteorological Service of Jamaica, the powerful storm made landfall in the vicinity of Parottee shortly after… pic.twitter.com/hLP2kosaFC
— Jamaica Observer (@JamaicaObserver) October 28, 2025
Further east in Savanna-la-Mar, the devastation extended to critical infrastructure. The Public General Hospital suffered structural damage when a section of its roof was torn off by violent winds. Footage from the Jamaica Gleaner shows exposed wards and rainwater flooding into areas once reserved for patient care — a sobering reminder that even essential facilities are not immune to nature’s worst.
Melissa’s storm surge, coupled with torrential rainfall, is expected to compound the devastation, especially across western and southern Jamaica, where vulnerable low-lying communities are already battling flash flooding and blocked roadways. Emergency crews are struggling to access the most impacted areas due to downed power lines, uprooted trees, and debris-clogged roads.
A roof was completely torn off a building at a section of the Savanna La Mar Public General Hospital due to the passage of Hurricane Melissa. The system made landfall earlier today near New Hope district in Westmoreland, Jamaica. #GLNRToday #TrackingMelissa pic.twitter.com/zBnm9bu4Oq
— Jamaica Gleaner (@JamaicaGleaner) October 28, 2025
As the storm continues its path across western Jamaica, the NHC warns of life-threatening flash floods and landslides, especially in mountainous terrain. The country’s disaster management agency has urged all residents to remain indoors and to avoid attempts at travel or rescue without official support.
With this landfall, Hurricane Melissa enters the record books — but for Jamaicans, it’s not a statistic. It’s a nightmare made real, and one that will take months, if not years, to recover from.
