Jamaica is one of my favorite places in the world. I proposed there, got married there, and now have extended family there. My wife was just on the Caribbean island visiting, but was lucky enough to escape before Hurricane Melissa hit.
I say “lucky enough” because Melissa is a monster that is expected to wreak havoc on the tropical nation, and I’m saddened to report that the powerful storm is hitting as of this writing.
Melissa’s center is now squarely over western Jamaica, two hours after it officially made landfall.
The hurricane is interacting with land, cut off from the warm water fuel it needs to maintain its full power. Melissa appears to be losing some strength, as evidenced by the dramatic shrinking of its eye in the loop above.
A clear, almost perfectly circular eye is a sign of an intensely powerful hurricane. Melissa still has an eye, but the shrinking and slight warping of that circle indicates the ferocious winds rushing around the eye — called the eyewall — are taking a hit.
It’s huge:
This footage from inside the eye of Category 5 Hurricane Melissa might be the most jaw-dropping video ever captured of a hurricane’s eye, showcasing the infamous “stadium effect." pic.twitter.com/AEhj2g2Ban
— Colin McCarthy (@US_Stormwatch) October 27, 2025
It could end up being one of the largest storms to ever hit JA:
• Storm of the century: Earlier, Prime Minister Andrew Holness told CNN the storm will cause “catastrophic damage.” Jamaica has never taken a hit from a Category 5, with a UN agency describing Melissa as the “storm of the century.”
Residents are warned by the National Hurricane Center to seek shelter and stay there:
"Do not leave your shelter as the eye passes over, as winds will rapidly increase on the other side of the eye," the NHC said. "Residents should not leave their shelter and should remain in place through the passage of these life-threatening conditions."
As Hurricane Melissa approaches Jamaica, families across the island are taking shelter and praying through the storm.
— Samaritan's Purse (@SamaritansPurse) October 28, 2025
Hurricane Melissa’s effects will be felt for several days, with landfall on Jamaica happening at any moment.
Samaritan’s Purse is already preparing to respond… pic.twitter.com/0HSXG7BXDS
So far, our relatives have described leaking houses and shrieking winds, but we expect contact to be intermittent at best, and already, internet outages are widespread as power lines and more are being taken down by the lashing winds and rain. (As I'm writing, I just received some heart emojis over WhatsApp, so hopefully they're hanging in there.)
The eye is starting to make landfall around black river and Crawford! #Melissa #Hurricane pic.twitter.com/XSULl379WP
— TexasWx (@BoNixWx) October 28, 2025
There’s even another hazard you might not have thought of: crocs.
The heavy rains and flooding associated with the storm “may result in crocodiles being displaced from their natural habitats,” the South East Regional Health Authority, part of the country’s ministry of health, said in a statement today.
Virginia GOP gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears is from the island, and she is praying for them:
As Hurricane Melissa begins its landfall in Jamaica, we humbly ask the Lord for protection, strength, and mercy over all those in the storm’s path.
— Lt. Governor of Virginia - Winsome Earle-Sears (@WinsomeSears) October 28, 2025
Watch my message and join me in praying for the people of Jamaica and the Caribbean region ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/qTlMG8MQfG
Read More: NC's Outer Banks Continue to Lose the Battle With Mother Nature
Sean Duffy's Leadership Opens Hurricane-Battered I-40 Nine Months Ahead of Pete Buttigieg's Schedule
Although the winds have lessened somewhat, the hurricane is still expected to be a powerhouse:
Hurricane Melissa’s wind speed has decreased as it tracks deeper into Jamaica Tuesday afternoon. As of 2 p.m. ET, the hurricane’s maximum winds are at 165 mph, down 20 mph from just an hour ago, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Hurricanes are fueled by water, so any interaction with land starts to degrade them. But Melissa is so powerful, that drop in wind speed does not significantly affect its impact.
Catastrophic winds, flash flooding and storm surge are occurring on Jamaica, the hurricane center warned.
Pray for Jamaica pic.twitter.com/OXi8RaL3Vh
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) October 28, 2025
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has stepped in to help with his Starlink internet service:
🚨 BREAKING: Elon Musk's Starlink just made the service FREE to Jamaica and the Bahamas as Category 5 Hurricane Melissa makes landfall, through the end of November.
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) October 28, 2025
Elon is the best 🙏 pic.twitter.com/nVsM2Z3WC7
I join Earle-Sears and so many others in praying for the paradise that is and hopefully will once be Jamaica again. RedState will bring you updates as more information comes in.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member