Hurricane Melissa is expected to make landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday morning as a Category 5 storm with 175 mph winds, making it the most powerful storm in the Atlantic this year.
The storm’s path was expected to hit the island’s St. Elizabeth Parish, a coastal area about 75 miles west of the island’s capital, Kingston. The weather service said the risk of “catastrophic” damage and casualties was high.
It wasn’t just Jamaica that was affected by Melissa. Nearly 30 inches of rain are currently forecast for the island and nearby Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, the Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. More islands are also likely to be buffeted by the massive storm, with storm surges likely to produce huge waves throughout the week.
If you’re planning to travel to Jamaica or the Caribbean this week, here’s what you need to know and what you can do to prepare for the effects of the storm.
RELATED: Top travel mistakes to avoid during hurricane season
Where is Hurricane Melissa?
Hurricane Melissa is currently a Category 5 hurricane located southwest of Jamaica, moving on a northeastern track directly over Jamaica, mainly affecting the northeastern Caribbean Sea of the Greater Antilles. As of Tuesday morning, winds were reported at 175 mph; once winds reached 157 mph, the storm was considered a Category 5. Extensive, ongoing damage is expected for any landmass in Melissa’s path.
“Melissa’s core is expected to make landfall in Jamaica within the next few hours, move across southeastern Cuba early Wednesday morning, and move across the southeastern or central Bahamas late Wednesday,” the National Hurricane Center said Tuesday morning.
Last year, Hurricane Beryl took a similar Category 4 storm path in Jamaica, causing widespread damage to power and communications infrastructure. The storm moved northwest toward the Gulf of Mexico.
Is it safe to travel to the Caribbean?
Since the Caribbean is one of the largest oceans on Earth, covering more than 1 million square miles, many areas won’t feel Melissa’s wrath. For example, islands near South America like Aruba saw some rain last week as the storm moved westward, but did not cause any damage.
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However, if you plan to travel to Jamaica, be aware that the island is expected to take a direct hit from a Category 5 hurricane, and power and other infrastructure is expected to be disrupted for weeks to months as a result.
“The Government of Jamaica has issued a hurricane warning for the island on October 24, 2025. Everyone is urged to take necessary precautions to stay safe during this period,” the Jamaica Tourism Board website says. Visit its Travel Alerts page for information on emergency services, flight cancellations and shelter locations.
The National Hurricane Center has issued multiple watches and warnings in effect for the surrounding area.
Forecasters predicted a storm surge of 9 to 13 feet, and the slow-moving storm was expected to dump nearly 3 feet of rain on the island. In addition to Haiti and Cuba, which are directly in the hurricane’s path, nearby islands that may also be affected by the storm surge include the southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Large waves that could cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions are expected to reach the Cayman Islands over the next few days, and the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands and Bermuda later this week.
If you’re planning a trip to the Caribbean, you’ll want to stay up to date on what’s happening in your specific destination.
Airport closures and airline exemptions
Jamaica’s two main airports were closed over the weekend ahead of the storm. Kingston’s Norman Manley International Airport (KIN) closed after the last flight on Saturday, October 25, and Montego Bay’s Sangster International Airport (MBJ) closed at noon on Sunday, October 26. Neither has announced an expected reopening date.
Flights from the Turks and Caicos Islands are still operating and the area is under a hurricane watch. According to Experience Turks and Caicos, the country’s destination marketing organization, both American Airlines and JetBlue are currently operating large aircraft to serve those hoping to leave the islands before the storm arrives.
Airlines serving Jamaica and other Caribbean islands offer various travel exemptions. The details of each exemption vary, but generally apply to flights to, from, or through various airports in Jamaica and other islands. The exemption allows travelers to change flights without paying the fare difference.
Here are some examples of airline exemptions:
- Delta Air Lines: For flights to and from Jamaica and the Turks and Caicos Islands from October 25-30, flights must be rebooked by November 2. There is no change fee, but passengers will need to pay the difference in fares for flights after November 2.
- United Airlines: Valid for flights to and from Jamaica, Turks and Caicos Islands, October 25-29, and to and from Bermuda, October 30-November. 2. No change fees or fare differences will be charged for flights before November 5 (Jamaica, Turks and Caicos Islands) and November 9 (Bermuda). (Please note that United does not charge change fees at any time.)
- American Airlines: This is a broader exemption that applies to the Turks and Caicos Islands; Jamaica; Cuba; and George Town, Bahamas. Change fees will be waived for travel scheduled between October 25 and 29, and changes must be booked by November 2.
- JetBlue Airways: Change/cancellation fees and fare differences are waived for flights to and from Jamaica between October 25 and 31; customers can rebook flights until November 8. For flights to and from the Turks and Caicos Islands, fees and fare differences are waived for travel between October 28 and 30 and can be rebooked until November 5.
If you are traveling this week, please check with your airline for more details.
What to do if you’ve booked a trip to Jamaica or the Caribbean
If you booked directly with the hotel, check their website first and see if any updates have been posted. You can also call the hotel or main reservation number directly. Keep in mind that many hotels may be dealing with a crisis, so calling the hotel directly should be a last resort.
If you book through a third-party online travel agency or aggregator such as Expedia or Travelocity, it’s important to understand the cancellation policy. The OTA still owns your pre-travel reservation; if you contact the hotel directly, it may refer you back to the OTA or travel portal for assistance.
If you’re planning a trip to the Caribbean, check with your cruise line for the latest sailing plans.
Related: Cruising during hurricane season: What to know
If you have purchased travel insurance, you should be able to recoup all of your travel expenses when you travel to areas directly affected by Hurricane Melissa. As we’ve reported before, the time to buy insurance is before the storm is named. Once identified, it is a “known event” and you can no longer purchase insurance for that storm.
How to help
If you want to help people affected by the storm, here are a few options to consider:
bottom line
Hurricane Melissa is expected to make landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday morning as a Category 5 hurricane. It will then fly northeast over Cuba and Haiti into the Caribbean, affecting the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands.
If you plan to travel to an area affected by a hurricane, it would be wise to cancel or postpone your plans.
For more helpful tips on traveling during hurricane season, read:
