Monday, Oct. 27 update from the National Hurricane Center: Latest on Category 5 Hurricane Melissa

Article last updated: Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, 5 p.m. ET

Atlanta's Jamaican community concerned for family on island in Hurricane Melissa's path

At its current strength, Hurricane Melissa would be the strongest hurricane to hit Jamaica since record-keeping began in 1851.

How rarely do Category 4 or 5 hurricanes make landfall?

Only 81 hurricanes have struck as Category 4 or higher since 1851, or about one every other year on average. A couple have crippled multiple points at that strength. Irma, in 2017, managed to hit five countries as a Category 4 or 5 — the most of any storm in the Atlantic.

Hurricane Melissa Is So Strong, Hurricane Hunters Had to Abandon Mission

Newsweek reached out to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) via email for comment. Hurricane Melissa is a Category 5 storm as of the most recent update from the NHC, with maximum sustained wind gusts reaching 175 mph.
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