Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm with winds of 185 mph, made landfall near New Hope, Jamaica, on October 28, marking it as one of the most powerful hurricanes in the Atlantic's recorded history. The storm continued its destructive path, striking eastern Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane before gradually weakening over the North Atlantic. The impact of Melissa has been catastrophic, resulting in widespread destruction and severe flooding across Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba.