Closure of Jamaica Airports As ‘Extremely Powerful’ Category 5 Hurricane Melissa Nears

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The relevant Airport Authorities of Kingston and Montego Bay, Jamaica, have advised of the closure of the island's two (2) major Airports — Norman Manley International Airport (Kingston) and Sangster International Airport (Montego Bay) — on Saturday (25th October, 2025) and Sunday (26th October, 2025), respectively, due to the impending passage of Hurricane Melissa, now an extremely powerful, major Category 5 Hurricane.

Norman Manley International Airport (Kingston)

  • Closure: 9:00 PM local time on October 25.
  • Expected Re-opening: 12:00 PM local time on October 29

Sangster International Airport (Montego Bay)

  • Closure: 12:00 PM local time on October 26.
  • Expected Re-opening: 12:00 PM local time on October 29.

Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL) said it has implemented a waiver of re-booking fees for customers holding confirmed tickets to, from, or via Jamaica, whose travel plans have been impacted.

Passengers may rebook for travel up to 20th November, 2025, without incurring any charges.

Customers are encouraged to visit www.caribbean-airlines.com or the airline's social media pages for the latest updates.

CAL said, “Operations will resume once it is safe to do so.”

According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami, at 11:00 AM EDT (15:00 UTC) this morning (Monday 27th October, 2025), the center of Hurricane Melissa was located near latitude 16.4 North, longitude 78.2 West. Melissa is moving toward the West near 3 mph (6 km/h). A slow turn toward the Northwest and North is expected later today, followed by a turn toward the Northeast and a faster forward speed on Tuesday (28th October, 2025). A Northeastward motion is expected on Wednesday and Thursday. 

On the forecast track, the core of Melissa is expected to move over Jamaica tonight and early Tuesday, across Southeastern Cuba on Tuesday night, and across the Southeastern Bahamas on Wednesday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 165 mph (270 km/h) with higher gusts.

Melissa is a category 5 Hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

Some fluctuations in intensity are likely before Melissa makes landfall on Jamaica. However, Melissa is expected to reach Jamaica and Southeastern Cuba as an extremely powerful major Hurricane, and will still be at Hurricane strength when it moves across the Southeastern Bahamas.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles (45 km) from the center and Tropical-Storm-force winds extend outward up to 195 miles (315 km).

The NHC notes that the minimum central pressure estimated from the latest Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft data is 908 mb (26.82 inches).

More on this as it becomes available.

This is a developing story - refresh this page for updates.

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