Hurricane

See photos of where Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica

By Miami Herald staff
Celia Coke stands next to her shop, destroyed after the passage of Hurricane Melissa in the Wilton district of St. Elizabeth, Jamaica on October 29, 2025. Hurricane Melissa ripped up trees and knocked out power after making landfall in Jamaica on October 28, 2025 as one of the most powerful hurricanes on record, inundating the island nation with rains that threaten flash floods and landslides.
Celia Coke stands next to her shop, destroyed after the passage of Hurricane Melissa in the Wilton district of St. Elizabeth, Jamaica on October 29, 2025. Hurricane Melissa ripped up trees and knocked out power after making landfall in Jamaica on October 28, 2025 as one of the most powerful hurricanes on record, inundating the island nation with rains that threaten flash floods and landslides. RICARDO MAKYN AFP via Getty Images

A very powerful Hurricane Melissa left a trail of devastation through Jamaica Tuesday afternoon as one of the strongest storms ever recorded in the Atlantic.

An estimated 1 million people — more than a third of the island’s residents — had been affected by Melissa’s ferocious winds and rains.

Early photos show flooded streets and destroyed homes in neighborhoods in St Elizabeth.

Flooded homes are seen after the passage of Hurricane Melissa in Howard Acres neighborhood in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, on October 29, 2025. Hurricane Melissa ripped up trees and knocked out power after making landfall in Jamaica on October 28, 2025 as one of the most powerful hurricanes on record, inundating the island nation with rains that threaten flash floods and landslides.
Flooded homes are seen after the passage of Hurricane Melissa in Howard Acres neighborhood in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, on October 29, 2025. Hurricane Melissa ripped up trees and knocked out power after making landfall in Jamaica on October 28, 2025 as one of the most powerful hurricanes on record, inundating the island nation with rains that threaten flash floods and landslides. RICARDO MAKYN AFP via Getty Images
A man stands on what is left of the roof of his neighbor following the passage of Hurricane Melissa, in longwood, St Elizabeth, Jamaica on October 29, 2025. Hurricane Melissa ripped up trees and knocked out power after making landfall in Jamaica on October 28, 2025 as one of the most powerful hurricanes on record, inundating the island nation with rains that threaten flash floods and landslides.
A man stands on what is left of the roof of his neighbor following the passage of Hurricane Melissa, in longwood, St Elizabeth, Jamaica on October 29, 2025. Hurricane Melissa ripped up trees and knocked out power after making landfall in Jamaica on October 28, 2025 as one of the most powerful hurricanes on record, inundating the island nation with rains that threaten flash floods and landslides. RICARDO MAKYN AFP via Getty Images
A Church with sections of its roof damage is seen damage following the passage of Hurricane Melissa, outside Santa Cruz, St Elizabeth, Jamaica on October 29, 2025. Hurricane Melissa ripped up trees and knocked out power after making landfall in Jamaica on October 28, 2025 as one of the most powerful hurricanes on record, inundating the island nation with rains that threaten flash floods and landslides.
A Church with sections of its roof damage is seen damage following the passage of Hurricane Melissa, outside Santa Cruz, St Elizabeth, Jamaica on October 29, 2025. Hurricane Melissa ripped up trees and knocked out power after making landfall in Jamaica on October 28, 2025 as one of the most powerful hurricanes on record, inundating the island nation with rains that threaten flash floods and landslides. RICARDO MAKYN AFP via Getty Images
Rollin Salmond uses an electrical saw to cut sections of a tree blocking the entrance to his home in Longwood, St Elizabeth, Jamaica on October 29, 2025. Hurricane Melissa ripped up trees and knocked out power after making landfall in Jamaica on October 28, 2025 as one of the most powerful hurricanes on record, inundating the island nation with rains that threaten flash floods and landslides.
Rollin Salmond uses an electrical saw to cut sections of a tree blocking the entrance to his home in Longwood, St Elizabeth, Jamaica on October 29, 2025. Hurricane Melissa ripped up trees and knocked out power after making landfall in Jamaica on October 28, 2025 as one of the most powerful hurricanes on record, inundating the island nation with rains that threaten flash floods and landslides. RICARDO MAKYN AFP via Getty Images
Hurricane Melissa ripped up trees and knocked out power after making landfall in Jamaica on October 29, 2025 as one of the most powerful hurricanes on record, inundating the island nation with rains that threaten flash floods and landslides.
Hurricane Melissa ripped up trees and knocked out power after making landfall in Jamaica on October 29, 2025 as one of the most powerful hurricanes on record, inundating the island nation with rains that threaten flash floods and landslides. RICARDO MAKYN AFP via Getty Images
Hurricane Melissa ripped up trees and knocked out power after making landfall in Jamaica on October 29, 2025 as one of the most powerful hurricanes on record, inundating the island nation with rains that threaten flash floods and landslides.
Hurricane Melissa ripped up trees and knocked out power after making landfall in Jamaica on October 29, 2025 as one of the most powerful hurricanes on record, inundating the island nation with rains that threaten flash floods and landslides. RICARDO MAKYN AFP via Getty Images
Hurricane Melissa ripped up trees and knocked out power after making landfall in Jamaica on October 29, 2025 as one of the most powerful hurricanes on record, inundating the island nation with rains that threaten flash floods and landslides.
Hurricane Melissa ripped up trees and knocked out power after making landfall in Jamaica on October 29, 2025 as one of the most powerful hurricanes on record, inundating the island nation with rains that threaten flash floods and landslides. RICARDO MAKYN AFP via Getty Images
Hurricane Melissa ripped up trees and knocked out power after making landfall in Jamaica on October 29, 2025 as one of the most powerful hurricanes on record, inundating the island nation with rains that threaten flash floods and landslides.
Hurricane Melissa ripped up trees and knocked out power after making landfall in Jamaica on October 29, 2025 as one of the most powerful hurricanes on record, inundating the island nation with rains that threaten flash floods and landslides. RICARDO MAKYN AFP via Getty Images
A man points to his banana crops, destroyed by the powerful winds following the passage of Hurricane Melissa, in longwood, St Elizabeth, Jamaica on October 29, 2025. Hurricane Melissa ripped up trees and knocked out power after making landfall in Jamaica on October 28, 2025 as one of the most powerful hurricanes on record, inundating the island nation with rains that threaten flash floods and landslides.
A man points to his banana crops, destroyed by the powerful winds following the passage of Hurricane Melissa, in longwood, St Elizabeth, Jamaica on October 29, 2025. Hurricane Melissa ripped up trees and knocked out power after making landfall in Jamaica on October 28, 2025 as one of the most powerful hurricanes on record, inundating the island nation with rains that threaten flash floods and landslides. RICARDO MAKYN AFP via Getty Images
Flooded homes are seen after the passage of Hurricane Melissa in Howard Acres neighborhood in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica on October 29, 2025. Hurricane Melissa ripped up trees and knocked out power after making landfall in Jamaica on October 28, 2025 as one of the most powerful hurricanes on record, inundating the island nation with rains that threaten flash floods and landslides.
Flooded homes are seen after the passage of Hurricane Melissa in Howard Acres neighborhood in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica on October 29, 2025. Hurricane Melissa ripped up trees and knocked out power after making landfall in Jamaica on October 28, 2025 as one of the most powerful hurricanes on record, inundating the island nation with rains that threaten flash floods and landslides. RICARDO MAKYN AFP via Getty Images
A man walks with a shovel in hand over rubble on Main Street in Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica on October 29, 2025. Hurricane Melissa ripped up trees and knocked out power after making landfall in Jamaica on October 28, 2025 as one of the most powerful hurricanes on record, inundating the island nation with rains that threaten flash floods and landslides.
A man walks with a shovel in hand over rubble on Main Street in Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica on October 29, 2025. Hurricane Melissa ripped up trees and knocked out power after making landfall in Jamaica on October 28, 2025 as one of the most powerful hurricanes on record, inundating the island nation with rains that threaten flash floods and landslides. RICARDO MAKYN AFP via Getty Images
A woman walks on rubble left following the passage of Hurricane Melissa following the passage of Hurricane Melissa, in Santa Cruz, St Elizabeth, Jamaica on October 29, 2025. Hurricane Melissa ripped up trees and knocked out power after making landfall in Jamaica on October 28, 2025 as one of the most powerful hurricanes on record, inundating the island nation with rains that threaten flash floods and landslides.
A woman walks on rubble left following the passage of Hurricane Melissa following the passage of Hurricane Melissa, in Santa Cruz, St Elizabeth, Jamaica on October 29, 2025. Hurricane Melissa ripped up trees and knocked out power after making landfall in Jamaica on October 28, 2025 as one of the most powerful hurricanes on record, inundating the island nation with rains that threaten flash floods and landslides. RICARDO MAKYN AFP via Getty Images

This story was originally published October 29, 2025 at 5:32 PM.

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