NATIONAL NEWS

Hurricane Melissa is among the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes on record

Oct 28, 2025, 12:17 PM

Waves splash in Kingston, Jamaica, as Hurricane Melissa approaches, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (AP Pho...

Waves splash in Kingston, Jamaica, as Hurricane Melissa approaches, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS

(AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Hurricane Melissa is now among the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes on record.

The monster storm strengthened Tuesday before hitting Jamaica, bringing with it maximum sustained winds of 185 mph (295 kph). It’s the strongest Atlantic hurricane to make landfall since Hurricane Dorian battered the Bahamas in 2019.

Here’s a look at the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record:

Hurricane Allen

The most powerful Atlantic storm in terms of wind speed, Hurricane Allen killed more than 200 people in Haiti before swooping into Texas in 1980. It’s highest sustained winds reached 190 mph (305 kph) but slowed before it hit land.

Hurricane Melissa

The storm came ashore Tuesday in Jamaica as one the strongest Atlantic hurricanes in history. Its 185 mph (295 kph) sustained winds tied a record for the strongest speeds by an Atlantic storm while making landfall.

Hurricane Dorian

The most intense hurricane to hit the Bahamas on record, more than 70 people died in the 2019 storm that packed 185 mph (295 kph) winds.

Hurricane Wilma

This 2005 storm rapidly intensified, with winds topping out around 185 mph (295 kph). It slammed into Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula before hitting South Florida, where it carved a wide path of destruction.

Hurricane Gilbert

Hurricane Gilbert first made landfall in Jamaica and tore through the Caribbean in 1988 before slamming into Mexico, where 200 people died. At its peak, winds reached 185 mph (295 kph).

Labor Day hurricane

This unnamed storm in 1935 remains one of the most powerful hurricanes to hit the U.S. It devastated the Florida Keys and left damage along the Atlantic Coast. Its winds were measured at 185 mph (295 kph).

Hurricane Milton

Weeks after Hurricane Helene, this storm tore up the Gulf Coast of Florida last October and swept across the state. Warm water fueled its rapid intensification as its winds briefly reached 180 mph (290 kph).

Hurricane Irma

The storm packing winds of 180 mph (290 kph) caused more than an estimated $700 million in damage across Puerto Rico and knocked power out to more than a million people in 2017.

Hurricane Rita

Weeks after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005, this storm with winds reaching 180 mph (290 kph) ripped through southwestern Louisiana. It caused more than $11 billion in damage.

Hurricane Mitch

The catastrophic storm in 1998 set off mudslides and floods that left more than 11,000 dead, mostly in Honduras and Nicaragua. The hurricane hit the coast of Central America with winds at 180 mph.

Please follow our Community Guidelines

National News

Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling arrives before an event to mark the launch of the Americ...

Associated Press

Senate approves Trump’s pick to lead the Labor Department

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate confirmed President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Labor on Wednesday just before heading home to campaign for the midterm elections. Keith Sonderling, who was confirmed 47-41, has been the acting secretary since April and has served in multiple roles within the department over the course of his […]

6 minutes ago

FILE - A sign is displayed for the Northern Arizona University campus in Flagstaff, Ariz., Feb. 2, ...

Associated Press

Ex-fraternity leader at Arizona university gets jail time after pledge died of alcohol poisoning

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — A former Northern Arizona University fraternity leader was sentenced to two months in jail Wednesday for his role in a hazing that led to the death of a pledge. Carter Eslick, 20, also received three years of supervised probation during a sentencing hearing in Coconino County Superior Court. Eslick had pleaded […]

51 minutes ago

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaks to the media during the 81st session of the United Na...

Associated Press

Rubio orders visiting Iranian UN delegation to leave NYC ahead of schedule

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered Iran’s foreign minister and his delegation to the U.N. General Assembly to leave New York earlier than they had planned, two U.S. officials said Wednesday. The Trump administration had granted visas, albeit with severe restrictions, to Iran’s president and foreign minister and their delegations to attend […]

55 minutes ago

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, right, discusses environmental issues with Wade Crowfoot, head of the...

Associated Press

Newsom vetoes measure that would have penalized the use of smart glasses to secretly record people

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed legislation Wednesday that would have penalized Californians for using smart glasses to record people without their permission in changing rooms, doctor’s offices and other spaces people generally consider private. The legislation also would have required companies making smart glasses or other wearable devices, starting in 2028, […]

2 hours ago

FILE - The Texas State Capitol building is seen in Austin, Texas, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026. (AP Phot...

Associated Press

Man arrested on suspicion of planning an attack on the Texas Capitol, authorities say

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A 40-year-old man was arrested early Wednesday on suspicion of plotting to attack the Texas State Capitol, authorities said. The Texas Department of Public Safety said in a statement that it received “credible information about an individual planning a violent attack” for Thursday in Austin. The tip came in Tuesday evening, […]

4 hours ago

This image made from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) body camera footage shows an ICE off...

Associated Press

Judge keeps Venezuelan delivery driver shot by ICE in custody for alleged assault

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A Venezuelan delivery driver who was shot in his car by a federal immigration agent in Texas will remain in custody on charges that he assaulted an officer while trying to escape arrest, a federal judge ruled on Wednesday. Judge Dustin Howell said that the case against Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, […]

4 hours ago

Hurricane Melissa is among the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes on record