October 26th, 2025 - Hurricane Melissa Threatens to Be One of Jamaica's Strongest Storms

Jamaica is bracing for what could be one of the strongest storms in its recorded history as Hurricane Melissa barrels through the Caribbean. Forecasters predict it will strike the island as an "upper-end" Category 4 hurricane on Tuesday, with winds reaching a potential 155 miles per hour, making it one of the most powerful storms to ever approach the island. This would mark a significant event, as Jamaica has only experienced one Category 4 storm in its history—the infamous Hurricane Gilbert in 1988.

Hurricane Gilbert, which hit the island 37 years ago, caused widespread devastation. The storm, which made landfall near Kingston with winds of 130 miles per hour, displaced about 500,000 people—roughly one-fifth of Jamaica's population at the time. The storm caused extensive damage to the island’s infrastructure, shutting down power and water systems and leaving much of the island in ruins. While Melissa may not be the first storm of its kind to threaten Jamaica, it is shaping up to be one of the most intense in recent memory.

Since 2000, Jamaica has been hit by several near-miss Category 4 storms. For instance, Hurricane Dean in 2007 and Hurricane Ivan in 2004 both passed close to the island, causing millions of dollars in damage. Hurricane Beryl, which skimmed Jamaica’s south coast in 2024, was another reminder of the dangers posed by such storms, with more than $200 million in damages.

However, the damage from these storms pales in comparison to some of the island's worst disasters. Hurricane Charlie, which hit Jamaica in 1951, was one of the country’s most deadly storms, causing more than $50 million in property damage (equivalent to over $620 million today). This storm killed 152 people and left 25,000 people homeless. Similarly, Hurricane Ivan in 2004, while not a direct hit, resulted in 17 fatalities and close to $600 million in damages.

What makes Hurricane Melissa so concerning, beyond its raw power, is its timing. The island is entering the peak of hurricane season, and the effects of climate change are making these storms increasingly unpredictable and dangerous. While the island has experienced smaller storms, such as Hurricane Sandy in 2012, which caused significant flooding and $100 million in damages, it is the larger, more intense hurricanes like Melissa that present the greatest threats.

As Jamaica prepares for the storm, the focus is on ensuring that the island’s emergency response teams are ready to act quickly. The lessons learned from past hurricanes, including the devastation wrought by Hurricane Gilbert, have led to improved infrastructure and disaster preparedness. However, with each passing year, the scale and intensity of the storms continue to rise, pushing the limits of what even the most prepared nations can handle.

Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster) - Cognoscente (noun, kahn-yuh-SHEN-tee) - Cognoscente refers to a person with expert knowledge in a subject. It is usually encountered in its plural form, cognoscenti, and preceded by the.

Example: The audience at the club, though small, was full of writers, musicians, and other noteworthy members of the jazz cognoscenti.

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