Hurricane Melissa Intensifies into Category 5 Storm, Bringing Extreme Dangers to Jamaica
FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross provides his expert analysis on Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm that will bring extreme dangers of mudslides, flash flooding, and storm surge to Jamaica in the next 24 hours.
The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season has produced three Category 5 hurricanes, a phenomenon that hasn’t occurred in a single season for 20 years. A hurricane with maximum sustained winds of at least 157 mph is classified as a Category 5 cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Hurricane Melissa had sustained winds of 165 mph late Monday morning.
Historic Storms and Rapid Intensification
This is only the second time in modern history to have more than two Category 5 storms in one season. The last time it happened was in 2005, with four Category 5 hurricanes. 
The satellite image shows Hurricane Melissa just south of Jamaica on the morning of Oct. 27, 2025. (NOAA)
What’s even more astounding about this year’s Category 5 hurricanes is that the last time this happened in a single season, there were more than twice as many named storms, according to FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross. “And remember how many storms? We set a record in 2005 with 28 named storms,” Norcross said. “So this is extraordinary considering we have 13 named storms this year and three of them Category 5.”
Low Pressure and Historic Significance
According to the FOX Forecast Center, Melissa is also historic for its low pressure. Melissa had a pressure of 908 millibars late Monday morning, the lowest of the three Category 5 storms this season. It’s also tied with Hurricane Maria in 2017 for the ninth-lowest pressure of any Atlantic hurricane on record. 
This is satellite imagery of Hurricane Humberto. (CIRA / FOX Weather)
Hurricane Humberto underwent rapid intensification in September, becoming a monster Category 5 storm. The storm did not make landfall but produced life-threatening surf and rip currents along the East Coast. In August, Hurricane Erin was the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season and reached Category 5 strength with 160-mph winds moving north of the Caribbean islands. 
Satellite image of Hurricane Erin on Thursday morning, Aug. 21, 2025. (NOAA)
The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs through Nov. 30. For more information on Hurricane Melissa and the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, visit Here
Image Source: www.foxweather.com
