Kingston, Jamaica — 25 February 2026
Hurricane Melissa, which made landfall in Jamaica on 28 October 2025 as a Category 5 storm, has now been officially tied as the strongest hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic basin. The National Hurricane Center’s Tropical Cyclone Report confirms that Melissa’s sustained winds at landfall reached 185 mph, later reclassified at 190 mph, placing it alongside historic Atlantic storms. For Jamaica, the record is more than meteorological — it represents a defining moment for the country’s housing stock, land use patterns and long-term property security.
The report confirms that Melissa is both the strongest and costliest hurricane to ever strike Jamaica. At least 45 people died locally, with wider regional fatalities reaching 95 across the Caribbean. Entire communities suffered structural devastation, from shattered roofs and collapsed walls to widespread flooding and infrastructure failure.
For the property sector, the storm represents a structural res…
