The Meteorological Service of Jamaica is still anticipating Hurricane Melissa to further strengthen today (October 26) after it underwent a shocking “ultra rapid intensification” phase last night—swelling from tropical storm into a monster category four behemoth in just 12 hours.

In its latest bulletin, the Met Service warned that Melissa will maintain major hurricane intensity well into Monday night and Tuesday morning, when it is expected to make landfall.

“Hurricane Melissa is expected to produce rainfall amounts reaching 350-700 mm (15-30 inches) over parts of Jamaica in the next few days, especially over eastern parishes, with higher amounts over hilly terrain. Life-threatening flash floods and landslides are likely. As the hurricane moves closer, tropical storm force winds are expected to spread from southeastern sections of Jamaica, this morning, to the northwest. Hurricane conditions are expected by Monday,” the agency said.

“Life-threatening storm surge, accompanied by large and destructive waves, is likely along the south coast of Jamaica late Monday through Tuesday morning and could reach nine to 13 feet above ground level, near and to the east of where the centre of Melissa makes landfall. Small craft operators, including fishers on the cays and banks, are strongly advised to remain in safe harbour until all warning messages have been lifted and wind and sea conditions have returned to normal,” added the Met Service.

Hurricane Melissa, as at 11:00 am Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on Sunday, was located near latitude 16.4 North, longitude 76.6 West—or roughly 180 kilometres southeast of Kingston.

The 11th named storm of the 2025 North Atlantic Hurricane Season continues westerly at six kilometres/hour in an agonisingly slow progression through the central Caribbean.

The US-based National Hurricane Center (NHC), which sent reconnaissance aircraft to surveil the hurricane earlier this morning, clocked maximum sustained winds near 220 kilometres/hour, with higher gusts.

NHC forecasters say additional intensification is likely over the next day or so, followed by fluctuations in intensity.

“Melissa is expected to be a powerful major hurricane when making landfall in Jamaica Monday night or Tuesday morning and southeastern Cuba late Tuesday,” the weather watchdog advised.

The following alerts remain active: