Jamaica is bracing for Hurricane Melissa to make landfall on Tuesday morning on 28 October 2025 at local time as the slow-moving yet rapidly intensifying Category 5 storm nears the Caribbean island nation.
It’s expected to unleash catastrophic heavy rain, flash flooding, landslides and strong winds when it makes imminent landfall and has already caused multiple deaths as it shapes up as the world’s biggest storm this year.
The Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade (DFAT) has updated its Smartraveller advice to inform travellers that transport and essential services are affected in Jamaica with international airports closed until further notice.
Flights are also expected to be disrupted and airports closed in Cuba, which is also in the storm’s path.
It’s caused 167 flight cancellations across the Caribbean, affecting major airports in Jamaica, Bahamas, Barbados, Haiti and the US Virgin Islands and grounding planes and passengers.
Cruise lines have also rerouted itineraries to avoid Hurricane Melissa with parts of Haiti, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Bahamas and Turks & Caicos also expected to be affected.
Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Disney Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International have reordered or swapped stops to Western Caribbean ports to avoid the Eastern Caribbean.
Described as a “monster”, Hurricane Melissa is forecast as the strongest to hit Jamaica since records began in 1851 with the island nation already experiencing high winds and power cuts due to toppled trees and power lines.
It’s expected to linger over the island, causing extensive infrastructure damage.
Jamaica also experienced the toll of Hurricane Beryl last year, which caused historic levels of destruction in St Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada and Jamaica. US Tropical Storm Debby also affected travel plans in South-East US states in 2024.
The government has urged locals to take shelter with the Prime Minister warning of the “significant impact” as the storm turns towards Jamaica’s south coast.
For the latest advice, visit smartraveller.gov.au
