Hurricane Melissa, which is stronger than Hurricane Katrina, is set to bring catastrophic winds, flash flooding and high storm surges to the island of Jamaica.

Article first published: Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, 10 a.m. ET

Maryland Del. Jheanelle Wilkins and members of the state’s Jamaican community are organizing relief efforts after Hurricane Melissa, a historic Category 5 storm, devastated the island with

Hurricane Melissa is already a history-making storm, landing on all-time lists for strongest Atlantic Basin hurricanes and could be the most intense Atlantic landfall on record. The strongest hurricanes in Atlantic Basin history span from the Great Depression to present day.

Footage from a U.S. Air Force weather reconnaissance flight that passed through Hurricane Melissa’s eye confirms you probably don’t want to be there. The U.S. Defense Department released the video after flying multiple passes through the Category 5 storm on Monday to collect weather data for the National Hurricane Center.

Hurricane scientist Kelly Ryan talks about the scientific benefits gained by flying into the Category 5 hurricane.