Melissa is forecast to become the first Category 5 landfall in the Atlantic Basin since Dorian roared into the Bahamas in 2019. There have been 32 Category 5 hurricanes in the Atlantic since the use of satellites began in 1966, with 13 of those having formed in the past nine years.

Hurricane Melissa is making history as it made landfall earlier Tuesday afternoon as the first category 5 hurricane to make landfall over Jamaica. Hurricane Melissa made is also one of the most powerful hurricanes to make landfall on record in the Atlantic Basin.

Melissa is now tied with the second strongest storm in Atlantic Basin history between 2024 and 1842. The strongest hurricane recorded globally was Hurricane Patricia in the eastern Pacific off the southern Mexican coast.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November, with the most activity occurring between mid-August and mid-October. The northern Caribbean nations, such as Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, and the Dominican Republic, are among the most at risk of a direct hit.

In Florida, a new pilot program teaches doulas how to prepare pregnant people for hurricanes, flooding, and extreme heat — addressing a growing climate and maternal health crisis.

With the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season at its peak and Tropical Storm Humberto active, alongside forecasts of potential new systems threatening Florida's east coast, residents and communities face heightened risks of water disruptions.