Jamaica is bracing for Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm and the world’s strongest hurricane in 2025, with forecasters warning of “catastrophic and life-threatening winds, flooding and storm surges”. The system, which is currently packing winds of up to 175 mph (282 km/h), is expected to make landfall in the early hours of Tuesday, wreaking havoc across the Caribbean island.
Melissa has already been blamed for four deaths in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, where flash floods and mudslides tore through communities over the weekend. Its slow pace – described by experts as “crawling” – has raised fears of torrential rains, flooding and landslides that could last for days.
Why is Hurricane Melissa considered so dangerous?
According to American meteorologists, the danger lies not only in the immense power of the hurricane, but also in its excruciatingly slow movement. The storm is currently turning toward Jamaica at a pace slower than a walking human, meaning it will linger over land longer and drop rainfall measured in feet rather than inches.
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“The calm, 11-mile-wide eye of Hurricane Melissa is surrounded by its fiercest winds,” forecasters explained, noting that this configuration would expose the island to sustained hurricane-force conditions for an extended period of time.
WATCH | Satellite images reveal the ‘stadium effect’ – the stunning and terrifying eye of Hurricane Melissa as it hurtles towards Jamaica.
What’s going on in Melissa’s breathtaking “stadium effect” eye?
From above, the eye of Hurricane Melissa is a stunning sight – a vast, circular void surrounded by towering walls of cloud, a phenomenon known as the “stadium effect.”
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A meteorologist who flew into the eye of the storm described the experience to The Washington Post: “Even though Melissa was powerful, she seemed relatively small. That’s the secret of hurricanes — they’re small compared to non-tropical mid-latitude storm systems. But they pack all their power into this small area, resulting in extremely strong winds and waves.”
Meteorologist Cappucci further elaborated: “Melissa looked like a telling Category 5 on the satellite, but technically it had Category 4 winds. However, they were still picking up. As we entered the eye, I thought it might reach Category 5 strength.
Darkness fell as we entered the storm. The sun had set, but the darkness seemed thicker somehow. I could barely see the plane’s wing through the blur. Outside was not a dark chasm, but rather a gloomy gloom.’
How does a hurricane generate such intense energy?
Meteorologists explain that hurricanes derive their fury from the heat energy of the ocean. In Melissa’s case, warm, moist air spirals inward, rises rapidly, and creates a low-pressure void that drives stronger winds.
Experts noted that Melissa’s core contained an 8% air deficit – meaning nearly one-tenth of the air was pulled out of its center, intensifying the inward thrust. This process creates towering rings of thunderstorms that reach heights of 50,000 feet.
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When the air in the eyewall collides with the tropopause, it rebounds downward, heating and drying as it descends – creating an “oasis of calm” in the eye.
Why is the eye of Hurricane Melissa so warm?
The interior of the storm’s eye acts as an atmospheric chimney, trapping and recycling heat. The meteorologist recalled:
“I noticed I was starting to sweat. Then it hit me: I was in an atmospheric chimney. Hurricanes are warm-core systems characterized by a column of heat at their cores. And the temperature inside the eye, even at flight level, was 16 degrees higher than outside. Even at nearly 10,000 feet, it was still steamy and humid.”
This trapped heat—the defining characteristic of a warm core system—fuels the hurricane engine and keeps Melissa’s winds at catastrophic intensity.
What’s in store for Jamaica?
As Hurricane Melissa approaches the island, authorities are urging residents in low-lying and coastal areas to evacuate immediately. The Jamaican government declared a state of emergency and deployed rescue teams in anticipation of widespread devastation.
Experts warn that Melissa’s slow progress could result in unprecedented rainfall, crippling infrastructure and massive storm surges along the coast.
While meteorologists acknowledge the storm’s scientific excellence, they emphasize the human toll that will follow.
“Melissa was strengthening to a Category 5 hurricane, which would inevitably bring disaster for many,” one forecaster said. “As a scientist, I can appreciate meteorological excellence—after all, it’s the only way to get a storm of Melissa’s caliber.
