Hurricane Melissa on Monday became the third Category 5 Atlantic hurricane in 2025, and all of them surged up within days/ Why is this happening?

Article last updated: Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, 7 p.m. ET

The National Hurricane Center's 5 p.m. Thursday update reported that Category 2 Hurricane Melissa is in the Atlantic Ocean, 325 miles west-southwest of Bermuda. The hurricane is moving northeast at 31 mph, with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph.

Hurricane Melissa’s powerful winds and drenching rains devastated Jamaica. But is its wrath a sign that we need a new designation for monster storms?

Article last updated: Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, 1 p.m. ET

Arthur Blank, owner of the Atlanta Falcons, has pledged an initial $2.5 million through his foundation to aid Hurricane Melissa relief efforts across Jamaica and the Caribbean.

Evan Thompson with the Meteorological Service of Jamaica warned that the impending landfall of Category 5 Hurricane Melissa would cause catastrophic and “life-threatening” damage. Thompson advised seeking shelter in buildings with as many walls as possible to separate them from the outside.

This story was originally published by Grist and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration.