Strongest for Jamaica - Melissa tied for strongest Atlantic hurricane

Major Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica in late October 2025 and, after analysis, has officially been dubbed the strongest hurricane to make landfall in Jamaica and tied for the strongest hurricane in the Atlantic Basin.

Although the U.S. mainland didn't have a significant hurricane season in 2025, history was made in late October when Melissa rapidly intensified south of Jamaica before making landfall as the island nation's strongest hurricane on record.

Major Hurricane Melissa's sustained winds reached 184 mph at landfall near New Hope, Jamaica. After analysis by the National Hurricane Center, Melissa is tied for the strongest hurricane in the Atlantic Basin along with 2019's Hurricane Dorian and the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane.

Melissa brought life-threatening and catastrophic damage through flooding rains, damaging winds and storm surge impacting western Jamaica and the Greater Antilles. It is responsible for at least 95 fatalities.