Hurricane Melissa’s devastating eyewall carves path of destruction through Montego Bay, western Jamaica
4 min read
A video shared by the Jamaica Constabulary Force shows residents seeking shelter at a police station in Black River as Hurricane Melissa was ravaging the region on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.
MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica — Hurricane Melissa made a record-setting landfall as a monster Category 5 storm, packing wind speeds of 185 mph, as it roared ashore near New Hope, Jamaica on Tuesday.
Black River, one of the oldest towns on the island, just 11 miles south of the official landfall location was devastated by wind and storm surge. Video released by the Jamaica Constabulary Force showed power poles snapped in half, roofs torn off buildings and streets flooded with storm surge.
Melissa moved like a buzzsaw over the western parishes of Jamaica. The storm’s devastating eyewall passed directly over Montego Bay, Jamaica’s third most populous city and a popular tourist destination.
WATCH FOX WEATHER’S LIVE COVERAGE OF HURRICANE MELISSA
Powerful winds and heavy rain pummel Montego Bay in northern Jamaica on Tuesday.
Hurricane Melissa exited Jamaica as a Category 4 hurricane. Video from Montego Bay showed intense wind gusts whipping trees and creating a deafening roar.
FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross compared the eyewall of the storm to a 30-mile wide EF-5 tornado moving over the island.
After the worst of the storm had passed, a hotel guest at a luxury resort in Montego Bay surveyed the damage to the Iberostar Selection Rose Hall Suites Hotel.
Video shows damage from Hurricane Melissa to Iberostar Selection Rose Hall Suites Hotel in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
“It’s like a waterfall,” said TikTok user Sherry. Video showed ceiling panels missing in the hotel lobby.
“Thank you to the hotel staff, they really went way above and beyond and we are extremely appreciative,” she added.
-
A torn off roof is seen in St. Catherine, Jamaica, on October 28, 2025. Ferocious winds and torrential rain tore into Jamaica Tuesday as Hurricane Melissa made landfall, the worst storm ever to strike the island nation and one of the most powerful hurricanes on record. The extremely violent Category 5 system was still crawling across the Caribbean, promising catastrophic floods and life-threatening conditions as maximum sustained winds reached a staggering 185 miles per hour (295 kilometers per hour). (Photo by Ricardo Makyn / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images)
( ) -
The Rio Cobre comes out of its banks near St. Catherine, Jamaica, shortly before Hurricane Melissa made landfall on October 28, 2025. Ferocious winds and torrential rain tore into Jamaica Tuesday as Hurricane Melissa made landfall, the worst storm ever to strike the island nation and one of the most powerful hurricanes on record. The extremely violent Category 5 system was still crawling across the Caribbean, promising catastrophic floods and life-threatening conditions as maximum sustained winds reached a staggering 185 miles per hour (295 kilometers per hour). (Photo by Ricardo Makyn / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images)
( ) -
The Rio Cobre comes out of its banks near St. Catherine, Jamaica, shortly before Hurricane Melissa made landfall on October 28, 2025. Ferocious winds and torrential rain tore into Jamaica Tuesday as Hurricane Melissa made landfall, the worst storm ever to strike the island nation and one of the most powerful hurricanes on record. The extremely violent Category 5 system was still crawling across the Caribbean, promising catastrophic floods and life-threatening conditions as maximum sustained winds reached a staggering 185 miles per hour (295 kilometers per hour). (Photo by Ricardo Makyn / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images)
( ) -
A blown down fence is seen in St. Catherine, Jamaica, shortly before Hurricane Melissa made landfall on October 28, 2025. Ferocious winds and torrential rain tore into Jamaica Tuesday as Hurricane Melissa made landfall, the worst storm ever to strike the island nation and one of the most powerful hurricanes on record. The extremely violent Category 5 system was still crawling across the Caribbean, promising catastrophic floods and life-threatening conditions as maximum sustained winds reached a staggering 185 miles per hour (295 kilometers per hour). (Photo by Ricardo Makyn / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images)
( ) -
A man looks at a fallen tree in St. Catherine, Jamaica, shortly before Hurricane Melissa made landfall on October 28, 2025. Ferocious winds and torrential rain tore into Jamaica Tuesday as Hurricane Melissa made landfall, the worst storm ever to strike the island nation and one of the most powerful hurricanes on record. The extremely violent Category 5 system was still crawling across the Caribbean, promising catastrophic floods and life-threatening conditions as maximum sustained winds reached a staggering 185 miles per hour (295 kilometers per hour). (Photo by Ricardo Makyn / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images)
( )
At one point Tuesday, Jamaican officials said some 12,000 people were in shelters across the island.
At least 3 people were killed before landfall but no deaths or injuries have been reported since Tuesday, as crews prepare to more thoroughly survey the damage left behind by Melissa.
Powerful winds from Hurricane Melissa blasted Mandeville, Jamaica near the center of the island on Tuesday.
FOX Weather Correspondent Robert Ray was reporting from the central part of Jamaica in St. Ann’s Parish where extensive wind damage wrecked the inside of the home where his team was staying.
Melissa is tied as the strongest landfalling hurricane in the last 90 years.
According to the FOX Forecast Center, Jamaica’s mountainous terrain will continue to enhance any leftover rainfall as deep tropical moisture will continue to be drawn over the island by Melissa’s circulation.
[og_img
2025-10-29 11:09:00
