Hurricane Melissa

5 Nov 2025

Hurricane Melissa

India has dispatched 20 tonnes each of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) materials to Jamaica and Cuba in response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa

About Hurricane Melissa 

  • Category: Hurricane Melissa was a Category 5 Atlantic hurricane, one of the most powerful ever recorded in the region.
  • Formation & Path: Originated from a tropical wave in the central Atlantic and made landfall in Jamaica before striking Cuba and the Bahamas.
  • Intensity: Recorded maximum sustained winds ~185 mph (≈ 295 km/h) and minimum central pressure ~892 mbar — ranking among the strongest hurricanes on record.

Classification of Hurricanes

  • Hurricanes are classified based on their maximum sustained wind speed, according to the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
  • This scale categorizes storms from Category 1 to Category 5 based on intensity and potential damage.
Category Wind Speed Damage Potential
Category 1 119–153 km/h (74–95 mph) Minimal damage – Some roof, tree, and power line damage.
Category 2 154–177 km/h (96–110 mph) Moderate damage – Roof and structural damage; power outages likely.
Category 3 (Major Hurricane) 178–208 km/h (111–129 mph) Extensive damage – Major structural damage; electricity and water unavailable for days/weeks.
Category 4 (Major Hurricane) 209–251 km/h (130–156 mph) Extreme damage – Severe building failures; most trees uprooted.
Category 5 (Catastrophic) ≥ 252 km/h (≥ 157 mph) Catastrophic damage – Complete roof failure, building collapse, massive evacuation needed.

About Jamaica

  • Location: An island nation located in the Caribbean Sea, part of the Greater Antilles group.
  • Bordering Countries / Waterbodies:
    • North: Caribbean Sea (and Cuba across the water)
    • East: Hispaniola Island (Haiti & Dominican Republic) across the Jamaica Channel
    • South & West: Caribbean Sea
  • Terrain: Predominantly mountainous interior, with narrow coastal plains.
  • Major mountain ranges:
    • Blue Mountains (eastern Jamaica) — highest peak Blue Mountain Peak (2,256 m).
    • John Crow Mountains (east).
  • Hurricane MelissaClimate: Tropical — hot and humid on coast, cooler inland
  • Rivers: Numerous short rivers originating from the mountains, mostly flowing north or south to the coast.
    • Black River – Longest river (~53 km), navigable for a portion.
  • Economy: Bauxite and Alumina mining: Jamaica is one of the world’s leading producers of bauxite.

About Cuba

  • Location: Northern Caribbean, at the junction of the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and Atlantic Ocean.
  • It is the largest island country in the Caribbean.
  • Bordering Countries / Waterbodies:
    • North: United States (Florida) across the Straits of Florida.
    • East: Hispaniola (Haiti) across the Windward Passage.
    • South: Caribbean Sea.
    • West: Yucatán Peninsula (Mexico) across the Yucatán Channel.
  • Terrain: Predominantly flat to rolling plains, suitable for agriculture.
  • Mountain ranges:
    • Sierra Maestra (southeast) – highest range.
    • Sierra de los Órganos (west) and Escambray Mountains (central Cuba).
  • Highest Peak: Pico Turquino1,974 m, located in Sierra Maestra.
  • Climate: Tropical climate, moderated by trade winds; Prone to Atlantic hurricanes
  • Key water body: Ciénaga de Zapata (Zapata Swamp) – One of the largest wetlands in the Caribbean, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and Ramsar site.

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