You’ve likely seen the headlines or maybe you're just wondering why everyone is still talking about a storm that hit months ago. If you’re looking for a live tracker today, January 16, 2026, here is the short version: Hurricane Melissa is gone. It dissipated way back in early November 2025. But while the winds have stopped, the recovery is basically just starting.
It wasn't just another storm. Honestly, it was a nightmare. Melissa hit Jamaica as a Category 5 monster on October 28, 2025, with winds screaming at 185 mph. We are talking about one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes ever recorded, tied for the third-lowest pressure in history at 892 mbar.
Today, the "where" isn't a coordinate on a map. It's in the massive reconstruction efforts across the Caribbean.
The Current Situation: Relief and Recovery
Right now, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) shows a big fat zero for tropical activity. That’s normal for January. But for folks in Jamaica and Cuba, the "storm" hasn't really ended.
Just today, the IMF approved a massive $415 million disbursement to Jamaica. Why? Because the damage was catastrophic. We're looking at $10 billion in losses. That makes Melissa the costliest hurricane in Jamaican history, surpassing even the legendary Hurricane Gilbert from 1988.
- Jamaica: The government just launched the Shelter Recovery Programme (SRP) yesterday.
- Cuba: UNESCO is currently on the ground in Santiago de Cuba and Guantánamo trying to save heritage sites that Melissa tried to wipe off the map.
- Haiti: Recovery is slower here, with dozens of communities still struggling after the storm claimed 43 lives in the country.
Why Melissa Caught Everyone Off Guard
Most people expect the "big ones" in August or September. Melissa arrived late in October. It formed on October 21 and did something meteorologists call "rapid intensification." It went from a disorganized mess to a Category 5 buzzsaw in what felt like the blink of an eye.
By the time it hit near New Hope, Jamaica, it was at its absolute peak. The eye passed right over the island. You don't see that often with a Cat 5. Usually, they weaken a bit before landfall or just graze the coast. Melissa didn't. It stayed a Category 3 even as it crossed into Cuba the next day.
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The sheer power left a "blue plume" in the ocean—a massive trail of carbonate sediment stirred up from the seafloor that was so big NASA could see it clearly from space months later. It covered an area three times the size of Jamaica itself.
Where the Money is Going Now
If you are wondering where the relief efforts stand, it's a tiered system. The Jamaican Minister of Labour and Social Security, Pearnel Charles Jr., explained it pretty clearly this week. They've assessed over 70,000 households.
- Minor Damage: Households get up to $75,000 (JMD).
- Major Damage: Up to $200,000 for things like lost roofs.
- Severe Damage: Up to $500,000 for homes that were totally leveled.
The "ROOFS" grant—Restoration of Owner or Occupant Family Shelters—is expected to start handing out checks by the end of this month. It’s a $10 billion fund, but even that might not be enough given how much Melissa destroyed.
Misconceptions About the 2025 Season
A lot of people think 2025 was a "busy" year because of Melissa. Actually, it was a relatively low-impact season overall—until she showed up. She was the thirteenth and final named storm of the year. It just goes to show that the total number of storms doesn't matter as much as where the big ones go.
Melissa proved that a "quiet" season can still be a deadly one.
What You Should Do If You're Following This
If you have family in the affected areas or you're planning to travel to the Caribbean soon, keep these things in mind:
Check Infrastructure First
Don't just look at hotel websites. Many areas in the southwestern parishes of Jamaica, like St. Elizabeth, are still dealing with "extensive disruption" to local roads and small businesses. If you're heading to a major resort in Montego Bay, you’re likely fine, but rural excursions might be a no-go.
The 2026 Season Looming
We are currently in the "off-season," but the NHC will resume regular outlooks on May 15, 2026. The 2025 season left the ground saturated and infrastructure weakened. This means even a smaller Tropical Storm in 2026 could cause way more damage than usual because the "buffers" are gone.
Support the Right Way
If you want to help, the Red Cross and World Vision are still active in Jamaica and Haiti. They aren't just giving out food anymore; they're focusing on "cash and voucher assistance." This helps the local economy recover by letting people buy what they actually need from local vendors instead of waiting for shipping containers.
Melissa isn't on the satellite anymore, but the map of the Caribbean is forever changed. The focus now is entirely on the "Shelter Recovery Programme" and getting people out of the 100+ emergency shelters that are still open across the islands.