Hurricane Melissa downgraded to Category 4
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The storm is bringing destructive winds and life-threatening and catastrophic flooding and landslides to Jamaica, forecasters say.
Rainfall. Melissa is expected to bring an additional 4 to 8 inches across Jamaica, where storm total amounts will be between 12 to 24 inches. Isolated areas near 30 inches will be possible over mountainous terrain. Ongoing catastrophic flash flooding and numerous landslides will continue through Tuesday night.
Jamaican officials warned Sunday that some communities may not survive “catastrophic” flash floods as Hurricane Melissa, a powerful Category 4 storm, inched slowly toward the island. Melissa was packing maximum sustained winds of 145 mph and moving west at 5 mph,
Melissa underwent extreme rapid intensification, strengthening to a rare Category 5 with winds of 175 mph and stronger gusts, making it the strongest storm on the planet this year. Follow for live updates.
Article last updated: Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, 10 p.m. ET
The storm made landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday as a Category 5 storm and is expected to still be a major hurricane when it reaches eastern Cuba.
Track the latest forecasts for Hurricane Melissa with USA TODAY's storm tracker for Saturday, Oct. 25. The National Hurricane Center reports Melissa has strengthened into a hurricane in the Caribbean on Oct.
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