Almost stationary Melissa to pass south of Jamaica early next week - Met Service
Published:Friday | October 24, 2025 | 8:38 AM
The Meteorological Service of Jamaica has reported that Tropical Storm Melissa remains nearly stationary to the southeast over the Caribbean Sea and is expected just south of Jamaica early next week.
As a result it has continued the Tropical Storm Warning and the Hurricane Watch for Jamaica.
The Met Service says at 4 a.m., the centre of Tropical Storm Melissa was located near latitude 16.0 degrees North, longitude 75.5 degrees West. This is about 445 kilometres southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti and about 224 kilometres (139 miles) south-southeast of Morant Point or 260 kilometres south-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica.
A slow drift toward the northeast and north is expected later today and tonight.
On the forecast track, the centre of Tropical Storm Melissa is expected to begin drifting westward on Saturday and continue through Monday, bringing it just south of Jamaica early next week.
Maximum sustained winds are near 75 km/h (45 mph), with higher gusts, and gradual strengthening is forecast over the next day or so, followed by rapid intensification this weekend. Melissa is projected to become a hurricane by Saturday and a major hurricane (Category 3 or higher) by Sunday. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 220 kilometres (140 miles) to the east of the centre.
Melissa is expected to be a major rainfall producer over Jamaica. Amounts reaching 200-350 millimetres (8-14 inches) are forecast for eastern parishes through the weekend, causing widespread flooding and landslides. This would gradually spread westward across the country next week.
As the tropical storm moves closer to the island, expect strong, gusty winds reaching tropical storm force to initially affect eastern parishes later today and continuing into the weekend across the island. Hurricane force winds are also possible from as early as Saturday.
While marine areas will see quick deterioration today, small craft operators including fishers from the cays and banks are advised to remain in safe harbour until all warning messages have been lifted and wind and sea conditions have returned to normal.
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