Hurricane Melissa has rapidly intensified into a catastrophic Category 5 storm, packing sustained winds of 160 mph as it barrels toward Jamaica. The hurricane is being described as the most powerful system to threaten the island since Hurricane Gilbert in 1988. <br />The U.S. National Hurricane Center has warned that Melissa could strengthen even further before landfall, bringing 40 inches of rain, life-threatening storm surges, and devastating floods and landslides. <br />Authorities have issued mass evacuation orders, with emergency shelters across the island reaching capacity. <br /> <br />#HurricaneMelissa #JamaicaHurricane #MelissaStorm #Category5Hurricane #HurricaneWarning #JamaicaNews #BreakingWeather #CaribbeanStorm #HurricaneUpdate #HurricaneSeason2025 #HurricaneAlert #DisasterNews #StormWatch #HurricaneDisaster #HurricaneMelissaUpdate #HurricaneCoverage #MelissaHitsJamaica #TropicalStorm #ExtremeWeather #WeatherUpdate #CaribbeanNews #HurricaneTracker #BreakingNews #GlobalWeather #JamaicaEmergency #HurricaneDamage #NaturalDisaster #HurricaneAlert2025 #HurricaneNews #StormDamage<br /><br />~HT.410~
