Hurricane Melissa Reaches Category 5
Hurricane Melissa became the third Category 5 Atlantic hurricane in 2025, with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph.
It developed from a hurricane on Saturday, Oct. 25, to a Category 4 by Sunday, and then to a Category 5 by Monday morning.
Rapid Intensification Explained
This phenomenon is characterized by a significant increase in wind speed in a short period, typically less than 48 hours.
Examples of rapid intensification include Hurricane Erin, which formed on Aug. 15 and became a Category 5 by the next day, and Hurricane Gabrielle, which spun up from a Category 1 to a Category 4 in twelve hours.
The new normal with Atlantic hurricanes is rapid intensification, according to NHC data.
NHC forecasters predict that Hurricane Melissa may get stronger, potentially becoming one of the strongest storms to directly hit Jamaica in recent history.
Author's summary: Hurricane Melissa rapidly intensified to Category 5.
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