Hurricane Melissa is nearing Category 5 strength, with 49 out of 50 DeepMind model members predicting it will reach this intensity, as reported between 7:18 PM and 7:48 PM UTC on October 26th, 2025. Current forecasts from the 12z Google DeepMind ensembles indicate a potential landfall on the western side of Jamaica, prompting warnings of high storm surge and possible tornadoes for the eastern side of the island. These developments follow observations between 5:45 PM and 7:15 PM UTC on October 26th, 2025, where Hurricane Hunters documented rapid structural changes in the storm's eye, with instantaneous wind gusts of 130-145+ knots recorded in the northeast eyewall. Dropsonde data shared between 6:19 PM and 7:18 PM UTC suggested these powerful winds could reach the surface due to recent pressure falls. Previous reports from earlier on October 26th, 2025, indicated Hurricane Melissa had intensified with an extrapolated pressure of 953.6 hPa and sustained winds of 122 knots at 10,000 feet. Further eye dropsonde data had placed its central pressure closer to 946-947 hPa with surface winds near 26 knots, suggesting the eye was clearing. Model forecasts at that time varied on landfall intensity, with some predicting a high-end Category 4 and others a Category 5 storm. Earlier on Saturday, October 26th, 2025, Hurricane Melissa was observed near Palisadoes strip in Kingston, Jamaica. Separately, severe weather, including multiple tornadoes, impacted coastal Mississippi and threatened areas of Alabama on Saturday, October 26th, 2025, with one tornado crossing Interstate 10 near Moss Point, Mississippi, and another causing damage in Gautier, Mississippi.
