Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 04:15am on 28 Oct 2025,Tuesday Weather & Environment
Hurricane Melissa, a catastrophic Category 5 storm with 175mph winds, threatens Jamaica as the world's strongest storm this year and potentially the island's strongest since 1851 record-keeping began. Three storm-related deaths reported in Jamaica Monday evening, adding to four fatalities in Haiti and Dominican Republic. The NHC warns of "catastrophic life-threatening" conditions with 40 inches of rain expected over four days, causing severe flooding and landslides on already saturated ground. Prime Minister Andrew Holness ordered immediate evacuations, activating 881 shelters. The storm's slow 3mph movement intensifies rainfall risk. A Hurricane Hunter aircraft aborted its mission due to extreme turbulence. Melissa is positioned 145 miles southwest of Kingston.
