Listeners, this week the most significant, widespread, and destructive windstorm event sweeping across our region hasn’t come inland over the United States, but its sheer scale and power demand attention. Hurricane Melissa, the most potent storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, made catastrophic landfall in Jamaica on October 28 as a Category 5 hurricane, with sustained winds reported at 185 miles per hour and gusts reaching up to 220 miles per hour, according to CBS Iowa and Good Morning America. These winds are on par with some of the most extreme derecho or inland wind events, though in this case, they came as part of a historic hurricane.
ABC News shared harrowing images coming out of towns along Jamaica’s southwestern coast, especially Black River, where buildings, homes, and vital infrastructure were left in ruins. The prime minister described the nation as "ravaged," with entire communities unrecognizable, countless vehicles overturned, and power lines downed. A storm surge reaching up to 13 feet compounded the destruction, flooding large portions of St. Elizabeth Parish—one of the most populated regions—with authorities reporting up to 49 inches of rain in hilly and mountainous areas. Hospitals weren’t spared, as the Black River Hospital and several others suffered severe damage or outright devastation, and the Emergency Operation Center itself was knocked out. Roads across the island faced blockages from downed trees and debris, and officials stressed the urgent need for rescue and relief support. All airports in Jamaica, including Kingston’s Norman Manley International, suspended operations due to the damage.
Remarkably, officials so far report no confirmed fatalities despite the extent of devastation, though communication remains down in heavily affected areas, hampering full assessment of the human impact. Esther Pinnock from the Jamaica Red Cross said many communities had also lost running water, and the emotional toll is immense, with some residents still reeling from Hurricane Beryl’s impact last year.
After crossing Jamaica, Melissa weakened slightly but made landfall in Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane near Chivirico, in Santiago de Cuba Province, early Wednesday. According to EFE News, the storm then continued to move north as a Category 2, bringing widespread destruction to the Caribbean and heading toward the Bahamas.
While no derechos or non-tropical windstorms have struck the continental U.S. in the past week, Texas did experience exceptionally strong north winds—gusting over 45 mph—on October 29 following a cold front, according to Texas Weather Roundup. These winds elevated wildfire risk to extreme levels across Central and South Texas, but this high-impact event remains distinct from the vast, long-lived convective windstorms classified as derechos.
To sum up, the past seven days have been defined by Hurricane Melissa’s catastrophic windstorm, which, while not a classic derecho, delivered damage and sustained wind speeds at the higher end of what inland straight-line winds can produce. As the Caribbean continues recovery efforts, U.S. listeners remain fortunate this week, as the Atlantic hurricane season’s worst has bypassed American shores.
Thank you for tuning in to this Quiet Please production. For more updates, come back next week, and to learn more, check out QuietPlease Dot A I.
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