Hurricane Melissa
The strongest storm of 2025 made landfall in Jamaica yesterday.
What happened?
Over the weekend, Hurricane Melissa ballooned to a Category 4, with meteorologists warning of “catastrophic flooding” in Jamaica and parts of Cuba and Haiti.
Jamaican officials issued mandatory evacuations to ~28,000 residents Monday as the storm grew, saying “no infrastructure in the region can withstand a Category 5.” Melissa crawled to the coast, giving residents more time to board up buildings and move inland—though at the time of landfall, less than 6,000 people had evacuated to shelters.
Yesterday afternoon, Melissa came ashore over southwestern Jamaica as a Category 5, bringing record rainfall, winds up to 185mph, and up to 13 feet of storm surge (coastal flooding from rising tides).
What’s been the impact so far?
As of writing, at least seven people across the Caribbean have died, and more than 530,000 Jamaicans are without power in the wake of the most severe storm in the island’s recorded history.
Melissa weakened to a Category 4 storm while passing over Jamaica’s mountains, causing even more “catastrophic” damage (think: mudslides) before approaching Cuba early this morning.
What else?
The Air Force Reserve’s Hurricane Hunters flew into the eye of the storm ahead of landfall to collect data and record the eye’s “stadium effect” (see the wall of clouds) before being forced to turn back due to turbulence. Also unexpectedly on their radar? A flock of birds trapped in the eye.
Now what?
Melissa is heading northeast, where she’s expected to weaken further. In the forecast: up to 10 inches of rainfall in the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos before the storm heads back out to sea.
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PRAY WITH US
Father, King of Creation, call Your rebellious elements back to order. Jesus, Stiller of Raging Storms, bring peace and freedom from fear. Spirit, Giver of Life, be near with comfort for those who are grieving.
For those who are lost, search relentlessly and bring them home. For those who will rescue, grant courage and strength. For those who have lost everything, richly provide. To those who will rebuild, give fortitude, endurance, and hope. For Your people, a light in darkness, open doors for bold love. Shine Your light and make new again, Lord of Resurrection and Life.
(Mark 4:35-41; Romans 8:18-30)