Hurricane Melissa Makes History as the Strongest Atlantic Storm on Record!

As they continue to study Hurricane Melissa’s growth on the Atlantic Ocean, meteorologists and meteorology professionals have been carefully tracking the storm while weather service agencies and coastal communities respectably respond to the hurricane’s actions.

Conditions are developing rapidly for Hurricane Melissa to be one of the nation’s most powerful storms as compared to other storms with historical significance within the hurricane data history.

As the National Hurricane Center and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) continue to collect data to assess the storm’s wind speed, pressure and other indicators of the storm’s ultimate impact, they are closely monitoring Hurricane Melissa and working to define its long-term historical effects.

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Record Breaking Wind Speed

The National Hurricane Center has verified that Hurricane Melissa achieved a peak sustained wind speed of 190 miles per hour (mph), making her tied with Hurricane Allen (1980) for the highest wind strength on record from an Atlantic hurricane event. 

Hurricane Melissa stands among the strongest Atlantic hurricanes at this time.

NHC has completed its post-analysis and Tropical Cyclone Report for Hurricane #Melissa.

Melissa, one of the strongest hurricanes on record in the Atlantic basin, reached category 5 intensity (on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale) with a minimum central pressure of 892 mb… pic.twitter.com/nVGDkQYwcQ

— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) February 25, 2026

Areas Affected by Hurricane Melissa

Here are the worst hit areas by Hurricane Melissa in the U.S.: 

1. Jamaica

Jamaica was struck directly by Hurricane Melissa on October 28, 2025, near New Hope in Westmoreland. 

The 185 mph winds from this hurricane were the strongest ever to hit Jamaica and caused widespread power outages and catastrophic damage to whole communities from flooding, storm surge, and the hurricane itself.

2. Southwestern Jamaica (St. Elizabeth Parish and nearby regions)

Extreme destruction occurred in southwestern Jamaica, particularly St. Elizabeth Parish and surrounding areas. 

The storm surge reached heights up to 7-11 feet, resulting in destroyed homes, flooded communities, and damaged infrastructure. 

Numerous structures had their roofs blown off, and many areas on the island lost electricity due to the extensive damage caused by Hurricane Melissa.

3. Haiti 

Severe flooding and deaths from Hurricane Melissa occurred in Haiti. A significant amount of rainfall (36.77 inches) fell over Camp Perrin, leading to flash floods, major destruction, and loss of life due to landslides. 

Flood waters destroyed homes and displaced families and caused significant disruption to agriculture and transportation systems.

4. Cuba

Hurricane Melissa struck eastern Cuba soon after hitting Jamaica. Residents were evacuated due to heavy winds, flooding, and widespread damage.

5. The Bahamas

Hurricane Melissa passed through The Bahamas and brought destructive winds and heavy rainfall, resulting in damage to infrastructure and posed danger to coastal communities. The storm moved northward from the Bahamas after causing this damage.