After analysis by the National Hurricane Centre, Hurricane Melissa is tied for the strongest hurricane in the Atlantic Basin ever, along with 2019’s Hurricane Dorian and the 1935 Labour Day Hurricane.

The Category 5 storm has already been dubbed the strongest hurricane to make landfall in the western end of Jamaica on Tuesday, October 28, 2025.

The deadly Melissa brought catastrophic damage through flooding rains, winds and storm surge to the island and also affected other parts of the Greater Antilles. 

Melissa is responsible for at least 95 fatalities in Jamaica and caused an estimated US$8.8 billion in damage.

Hurricane Melissa’s sustained winds reached 184 mph at landfall in St Elizabeth.