Update: October 27, 2025, at 8:05 a.m. ET
On Monday, Hurricane Melissa strengthened into a Category 5
storm that was heading toward Jamaica.
According to the National
Hurricane Center (NHC), islands on Melissa’s path through the Caribbean Sea
will be hit with torrential rainfall, with Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican
Republic receiving as much as 15-30 inches of rain.
CATEGORY 5 MONSTER!
160 MPH #Hurricane Melissa
Destructive wind/storm surge & catastrophic flooding will spread across Jamaica today/tonight followed by eastern Cuba. Hurricane Watches are up for central/southeastern Bahamas & Turks & Caicos.@foxweather is live from Kingston. pic.twitter.com/h036Yb7tCq— Mike Seidel (@mikeseidel) October 27, 2025
Local officials are warning that the massive influx of rain
and wind could result in deadly flash flooding and landslides. Between Midday
Monday and midday Tuesday is expected to be the most destructive, with the
hurricane moving past the islands by Wednesday morning.
Current projections have the storm staying out at sea as it
moves along the East Coast of the United States later this week, but coastal
areas will still feel the impact of the high winds and heavy rain associated
with the storm.
10/27 5am EDT: #Melissa has strengthened to a Category 5 hurricane with 160 mph winds and a 917 mb central pressure, confirmed by the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters. Conditions in #Jamaica will rapidly deteriorate later today and tonight. Here are the key messages:
See… pic.twitter.com/pMRRQdyOqU
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) October 27, 2025
As cruise lines prepare to make changes to avoid sailing
through the impacted area, all airports in Jamaica were closed on Sunday ahead
of the hurricane’s landfall, according to the island’s transportation minister.
Update: August 26, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. ET
Several more major airlines have issued
travel waivers for destinations set to be impacted by Hurricane
Melissa in the coming days, which currently consist of Jamaica’s
major gateways.
Delta
Air Lines has issued a change fee waiver for travel to Kingston and Montego
Bay on flights originally scheduled through October 28, provided customers
rebook on flights on or before October 31.
Meanwhile, United
Airlines has issued waivers for those traveling to Montego Bay through October
29 with tickets purchased on or before October 23. Change fees and fare differences
for the same will be waived as long as customers’ rebooked flights depart by
November 5.
American
Airlines is allowing flyers to change their travel plans to Boscobel,
Kingston and Montego Bay through October 29 without incurring penalties. To be
eligible, their ticket must have been purchased on or before October 23, the original city
pairs must remain the same and their rescheduled flight must depart by November
1.
Southwest
Airlines’ waiver applies to flights to Montego Bay through October 29. To qualify,
rescheduled flights must occur within 14 days of the original travel date and
be between the original city pairs booked. If the airline cancels customers’
flights and they choose to cancel their trip as a result, they may also be eligible
for a full refund (even if the ticket was sold as non-refundable).
JetBlue
will also waive change fees and fare differences for travel to Kingston and Montego
Bay through October 28 (booked on or before October 23). Passengers will need
to rebook their flights for travel through November 5 to be eligible. Those whose
flights are canceled by the airline may also opt for a refund.
Original Text
As Hurricane Melissa barrels toward Jamaica, flight cancelations and airport closures come into focus.
The Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, Jamaica, will close at 9 p.m. after its final flight.
Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay is open for now but may also close as well. Flights have been added to allow travelers to leave the island.
JetBlue flights scheduled for Sunday and Monday to and from Montego Bay’s Sangster International Airport and Kingston’s Norman Manley International Airport have been cancelled.
American Airlines is waiving change fees for travelers with flights to Ocho Rios, Kingston and Montego Bay between October 25-27, 2025. The airline also plans to cancel flights to Kingston on October 26.
Air Canada has canceled several flights to Jamaica and has added two outbound flights to assist travelers returning home. Caribbean Airlines and Southwest have also canceled flights due to Hurricane Melissa.
Anyone traveling to the region should contact their air carrier for the most up-to-date information.
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