Hurricane Melissa has made landfall in Jamaica as a catastrophic category 5 storm, the strongest recorded since 1851. The storm, with maximum sustained winds of 180 mph, is moving slowly at 7 mph, which increases the potential for severe flooding and landslides across the island. Airports have been closed, and evacuation measures are in place, but many residents are hesitant to leave their homes. The storm's rapid intensification, which saw winds increase from 70 mph to 140 mph in just one day, has been attributed to unusually warm ocean waters, a phenomenon linked to climate change. Jamaica's economy, heavily reliant on tourism, faces significant risks as the storm's aftermath could lead to long-term impacts on recovery and infrastructure.