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Category 5 Hurricane Melissa Leaves Jamaica Devastated

2/26/2026

50 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Hurricane Melissa was a Category 5 storm in late October 2025 with peak sustained winds of 190 mph.
It tied the Atlantic Basin record for strongest hurricane with Hurricane Allen (1980).
Jamaica reported 45 fatalities and $8.8 billion in damages, about 41% of GDP.
A gust of 252 mph was recorded by a dropsonde.
Haiti and the Dominican Republic experienced flooding and fatalities.

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Story summary

Hurricane Melissa was a Category 5 storm in late October 2025 with peak sustained winds of 190 mph.
It tied the Atlantic Basin record for strongest hurricane with Hurricane Allen (1980).
Jamaica reported 45 fatalities and $8.8 billion in damages, about 41% of GDP.
A gust of 252 mph was recorded by a dropsonde.
Haiti and the Dominican Republic experienced flooding and fatalities.