In a historic post-storm analysis released on February 25, 2026, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) confirmed that Hurricane Melissa, which tore through the Caribbean in late October 2025, has officially tied the all-time Atlantic record for the strongest hurricane by maximum sustained wind speed. According to the NHC report, Melissa reached a staggering 190 miles per hour—matching the legendary Hurricane Allen of 1980 and cementing its place in meteorological history.
Initially, Hurricane Melissa was assessed at 185 mph, already a Category 5 monster as it barreled toward Jamaica. But after months of painstaking review, which included satellite data, flight-level wind measurements, and dropsonde observations from both Air Force Reserve and NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft, the NHC revised Melissa’s peak winds upward to 190 mph. Those winds were clocked just south of Jamaica, about 40 miles south-southwest of the island’s coast, on the morning of October 28, 2025.
The hurricane’s minimum central pressure was also extraordinary—892 millibars—tying for the third-lowest ever recorded in the Atlantic basin, behind only Hurricane Wilma (882 mb, 2005) and Hurricane Gilbert (888 mb, 1988), as reported by WVUE. Such low pressure is a telltale sign of a storm’s ferocity, and Melissa’s intensity was corroborated by a jaw-dropping global record: a dropsonde deployed by Hurricane Hunters measured a wind gust of 252 mph (219 knots), the strongest ever recorded in any tropical cyclone worldwide, surpassing the previous record set by Super Typhoon Megi in 2010.
When Melissa made landfall in western Jamaica as a Category 5, its sustained winds were still at 185 mph. This made it not only the strongest hurricane ever to strike Jamaica, but also tied it with Hurricane Dorian (2019) and the infamous 1935 Labor Day Hurricane for the strongest landfalling hurricane in Atlantic history, as confirmed by FOX Weather and WAFB. The NHC’s report paints a dire picture for Jamaica: at least 45 people killed, an estimated $8.8 to $9 billion in damages—representing about 41% of the country’s 2024 GDP—and thousands displaced as homes and businesses were turned to rubble.
The devastation in Jamaica was immense and deeply personal for many. According to FOX Weather correspondent Robert Ray, who rode out the storm in Saint Ann Parish, “I have never seen a disaster like this in my life. One community after the next is in total ruin.” Ray described shattered windows, collapsed porches, and widespread destruction, echoing the experiences of thousands who lost everything.
Melissa’s impact was not limited to Jamaica. Across the Caribbean, the hurricane claimed at least 95 lives, with catastrophic effects in Haiti, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic. In Haiti, rainfall totals reached up to 36.77 inches, triggering deadly floods that took 43 lives. Cuba saw over 900,000 homes damaged or destroyed—including hospitals, an oil refinery, and the Antonio Maceo Airport—while the Dominican Republic’s infrastructure suffered as 29 aqueducts were knocked offline, cutting water to roughly 250,000 people.
Jamaica’s agricultural sector was hit especially hard. The NHC report detailed that over 41,390 hectares of farmland were destroyed, more than 70,000 farmers lost their crops, and 1.25 million animals perished. The coffee sector alone saw damage to approximately 40% of its trees, resulting in a 45% loss in production valued at $833.8 million. The aftermath was further complicated by a leptospirosis outbreak, a bacterial infection spread through contaminated floodwaters, which led the government to declare a public health emergency.
Melissa’s rapid intensification was one for the record books. Over just three days, the storm’s wind speed increased by a staggering 121 mph—a feat rarely seen in hurricane science. According to WVUE, Hurricane Hunters flying through the storm experienced such extreme turbulence that they were forced to exit the hurricane prematurely, unable to sample the strongest winds directly. Yet, the data they did collect, combined with satellite estimates and dropsonde readings, left little doubt about the storm’s unprecedented strength.
Storm surge and flooding added to the misery. Along Jamaica’s southwestern coast, water levels rose 7 to 11 feet above normal, with entire communities submerged and vessels displaced. In the interior highlands, rainfall totals exceeded 32 inches, and across the region, rivers burst their banks, leaving catastrophic freshwater flooding in their wake. Nearly all wooden structures in western Jamaica were destroyed, roofs were stripped from most buildings, and even concrete construction suffered severe damage, according to WAFB and WVUE.
The broader Caribbean felt the storm’s wrath as well. In addition to the fatalities and infrastructure damage, the economic consequences were staggering. The $8.8 billion in losses for Jamaica alone represented nearly half the nation’s annual economic output, a blow from which recovery will take years. The agricultural devastation left tens of thousands of families without livelihoods, and the loss of livestock and crops has threatened food security for months to come.
The final NHC report, released on February 25, 2026, not only cements Hurricane Melissa’s place in the annals of meteorological history but also serves as a sobering reminder of the destructive power of nature. As the Caribbean works to rebuild, scientists and emergency planners are left to grapple with the lessons of Melissa’s rapid intensification and unprecedented wind speeds. “The data collected during Melissa’s peak intensity provides valuable insight into the extreme conditions that can develop within a Category 5 hurricane,” the NHC’s post-analysis report stated.
For the people of Jamaica and the greater Caribbean, Hurricane Melissa will not soon be forgotten. Its combination of record-breaking winds, catastrophic flooding, and far-reaching economic impact has made it a landmark event—one that will shape disaster preparedness and resilience efforts for years to come.