On Monday morning, Hurricane Melissa strengthened to a Category 5 storm with sustained winds of 175 miles per hour as it churned toward Jamaica’s southern coast. By the time it made landfall on Tuesday, October 28, it had become the strongest hurricane on record to directly hit the island, with sustained winds of 185 mph.
Hurricane Melissa caused an estimated $22 billion in damage and economic loss in Jamaica — rebuilding could take a decade or more.
If you’re planning a trip to Jamaica, Haiti, or eastern Cuba in the coming months, postpone non-essential travel. Recovery will take years in some areas, and the humanitarian situation in Haiti remains critical. For those with existing bookings, contact your airline and hotel directly — many are waiving change fees.
The storm has already caused widespread devastation across the region, with at least 25 deaths in Haiti and catastrophic damage in Jamaica, where an estimated 77% of the island lost power. For anyone planning a trip to the Caribbean, understanding what happened in each area and what comes next is essential for making informed decisions.
This article breaks down the impact on the three most affected areas — Jamaica, Haiti, and Cuba — and what travelers should know about visiting the region in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.
| Spot | Best For | Standout Feature | Time Needed | Key Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jamaica | Beach resorts, reggae, Blue Mountains | Category 5 direct hit, 185 mph winds | 10+ years to rebuild | Postpone all non-essential travel; recovery will take years |
| Haiti | History, culture, Citadelle | 25 deaths, 12 missing, 12,000 in shelters | Indefinite | Consider donating to relief organizations instead |
| Cuba | Vintage cars, colonial cities, beaches | 735,000 evacuated, 241 communities isolated | Several months | Check travel advisories before booking |
Jamaica — The Strongest Hurricane on Record
No hurricane in Jamaica’s recorded history has hit the island with more force than Melissa. The storm made landfall along the southern coast, about 60 miles west of Kingston, packing sustained winds of 185 mph. Storm surge along the southern coast reached 10–15 feet, and the US National Hurricane Center warned of catastrophic flash flooding, landslides, and destructive winds that could cause lengthy power and communications outages.
In Montego Bay, a resident told reporters that water reached her waist and rescuers had to break into her home to save her and her child. Another resident said all the trees her father had planted were gone. Workers at Black River Hospital spent the night fearing for their own families while working by flashlight to care for patients — one described it as “the most terrifying experience in all my life.”
Haiti — A Crisis Compounded
Haiti was already in the grip of a severe humanitarian crisis before Melissa arrived. An extended gang conflict has impoverished the country and displaced over 1.3 million people — many living in makeshift camps with no shelter, food, or timely aid. The hurricane did not make a direct landfall in Haiti, but days of torrential rain from the storm’s outer bands caused catastrophic flooding that killed at least 25 people, including 10 children, with 12 more still missing.
Fortune Vital, a displaced man in Les Cayes, said he was separated from his family and feared they would die if the hurricane compounded existing problems. The extended gang conflict has made it nearly impossible for aid organizations to reach affected areas, and the flooding has destroyed crops ahead of the winter growing season, threatening food security for months to come.
Cuba — Eastern Cuba Devastated
Hurricane Melissa hit Cuba overnight as a Category 3 storm with winds of 120 mph, making landfall in the rural, mountainous area of Guama, about 25 miles west of Santiago de Cuba. While no deaths were reported on Wednesday, President Miguel Diaz-Canel said the island had suffered extensive damage. Authorities evacuated around 735,000 people ahead of the storm, and at least 241 communities remained isolated and without communications, affecting as many as 140,000 residents.
AccuWeather reported that Melissa’s slow movement over the mountainous islands greatly increased the risk of catastrophic flash flooding and deadly mudslides, quickly escalating into a humanitarian crisis with needs for food, safe drinking water, housing, and medical care. The storm is expected to remain a powerful hurricane as it tracks through parts of the Bahamas before moving into the open Atlantic.
What This Means for Caribbean Travelers
If you had a trip booked to Jamaica, Haiti, or eastern Cuba, the first step is to contact your airline, hotel, and travel insurance provider. Most major airlines are waiving change fees for flights to affected areas during the hurricane window. For travelers with trips planned to other parts of the Caribbean — the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas, or the western Caribbean — it’s worth checking the forecast track, as Melissa was still a powerful hurricane as it moved toward the Bahamas.
For those still weighing options in the region, Jamaica had already seen a decline in US tourism over the past nine months before the hurricane, and the storm’s damage will likely extend that trend well into 2026. The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre has called for stronger efforts to curb climate change and scale up the UN’s “loss and damage” fund, as human-caused climate change is making all of the worst aspects of major hurricanes even worse.
Hurricane Season Travel Safety — Practical Advice
If you’re traveling to the Caribbean during hurricane season (June 1 through November 30), a few practical steps can make a real difference in how you handle a storm threat.
Hurricane Melissa was the third most intense recorded hurricane in the Caribbean and the slowest-moving, making it particularly destructive. The AccuWeather RealImpact Scale for Hurricanes rated it a 5 — the maximum possible value — across the western Caribbean. This means that even if you’re not directly in the path, the storm’s size and slow movement can cause dangerous conditions far from the center.
Monitoring the Forecast
The National Hurricane Center is the most reliable source for real-time tracking and forecasts. The NHC’s website updates every few hours during active storms, with detailed wind speed probabilities, storm surge maps, and rainfall estimates. If you’re traveling without reliable internet access, a weather-alert capable device can be a worthwhile investment. For longer trips or more remote travel, a solar-powered smartwatch with GPS and built-in weather monitoring gives you real-time updates without needing cellular service, which matters when power and communication towers go down.
Choosing Where to Stay
If you’re still weighing which island to visit or which side of an island to sleep on, this interactive map of the Caribbean’s hotels and rentals makes it easier to compare properties against hurricane risk zones, elevation, and proximity to airports. Properties on the leeward (western) side of islands generally experience less wind damage, and those at higher elevations are less prone to storm surge. After a storm like Melissa, it’s also worth checking whether the hotel’s staff and their families are safe — many Caribbean hotels rely on local staff who may be affected even if the property itself is undamaged.
Travel Insurance and Cancellation Policies
Standard travel insurance policies often exclude hurricane-related cancellations if the storm was named before you purchased the policy. If you’re booking during hurricane season, look for a “cancel for any reason” policy or one that specifically covers named storms. Many airlines, including American, Delta, and JetBlue, issued waivers for travelers with bookings to Jamaica and eastern Cuba during the Melissa window — check your airline’s website for the specific waiver dates and destinations.
If you’re traveling to the Caribbean between August and October, the peak of hurricane season, the risk of a named storm affecting your trip is real. Hurricane Melissa was the Caribbean’s third most intense recorded hurricane, and its slow movement made it especially destructive. The most practical risk to factor into your planning: airports in the affected region may close for days or weeks after a major storm, and relief flights take priority over commercial travel for weeks afterward.
- Postpone non-essential travel to Jamaica, Haiti, and eastern Cuba until recovery is well underway — rebuilding in Jamaica alone could take a decade.
- If you have existing bookings, contact your airline and hotel immediately; most are waiving change fees for the affected areas.
- For future hurricane-season travel, buy a cancel-for-any-reason policy or one that covers named storms, and monitor the NHC website daily during your trip.
Before You Go — Hurricane Melissa & Caribbean Travel Questions
Is it safe to travel to Jamaica right now?
No. The Jamaican government has given an “all clear” to begin recovery efforts, but emergency shelters remain open as people continue arriving from devastated homes. About 77% of the island lost electricity, and the damage to infrastructure — roads, water treatment plants, hospitals — is extensive. Non-essential travel should be postponed.
What about the Dominican Republic — was it affected?
The Dominican Republic experienced heavy rainfall and some flooding from Melissa’s outer bands, but it did not take a direct hit. The storm was blamed for at least four deaths in the Dominican Republic before it reached Jamaica. For current conditions, warm winter travel options in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Cuba are still available, but check with your hotel about local conditions.
Will my travel insurance cover hurricane cancellation?
It depends on when you bought the policy. If you purchased it after Hurricane Melissa was named, most standard policies will not cover cancellation related to this storm. If you bought it before the storm was named, you may be covered. Check your policy’s “named storm” exclusion clause carefully.
How long will recovery take in Jamaica?
Early estimates from the Jamaican government put the damage and economic loss at $22 billion, and rebuilding could take a decade or more. The last major hurricane to impact Jamaica was Beryl in July 2024, and recovery from that storm was still ongoing when Melissa hit. For travelers, this means that many resorts, attractions, and roads in the affected areas will be closed for the foreseeable future.
What’s the best way to help the affected communities?
Monetary donations to reputable relief organizations — such as the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the Red Cross, or local food banks — are the most effective way to help. Avoid sending physical goods, which can clog ports and airports that are needed for relief supplies. If you’re a frequent traveler to the region, consider booking a trip to a unaffected area next year; tourism revenue supports recovery across the Caribbean.
After the Storm
Hurricane Melissa was not just a weather event — it was a reminder that the Caribbean’s geography, while beautiful, leaves it exposed to some of the most powerful storms on earth. The slow pace of the storm, combined with its intensity, turned what might have been a survivable event into a humanitarian crisis that will unfold for years. For travelers, the most useful thing we can do is stay informed, avoid adding strain to overwhelmed destinations, and support recovery efforts where we can. When the time is right to return, the islands will need visitors more than ever — but that time is not now. If you’re looking for alternative winter sun options, new Caribbean and Mexico hotel openings for 2026 offer a way to support the region’s recovery without adding pressure to the hardest-hit areas.
References
Rappler. “Hurricane Melissa kills 25 in Haiti, nearly 30 total as hurricane batters Caribbean.” Rappler, 2025. Feel free to zoom in and out of the map to explore the area and find the best place to stay for your trip.Explore Places to Stay