Jamaica

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'Catastrophic' Flooding Expected in Jamaica

Melissa is most powerful storm in island's history

(Newser) - Hurricane Melissa, which made landfall in Jamaica as ferocious Category 5 storm on Tuesday, has weakened slightly to a Category 4 but forecasters warn that it is still incredibly dangerous. The National Hurricane Center says Melissa lost some power while slowly making its way over the island's mountainous terrain,...

Massive Hurricane Melissa Makes Landfall in Jamaica

Category 5 storm is one of the biggest ever in the Atlantic

(Newser) - Hurricane Melissa made landfall Tuesday in Jamaica as a catastrophic Category 5 storm, one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes in history, per the AP . The US National Hurricane Center in Miami warned of devastating flash flooding and numerous landslides from the hurricane with 185 mph winds. Forecasters warned that Melissa...

Storm Chasers Fly Into Eye of Hurricane Melissa

Monster Category 5 storm has begun pummeling Jamaica from offshore

(Newser) - Millions in Jamaica, Haiti, and Cuba are bracing for catastrophe as the monster Hurricane Melissa bears down on them. But before the expected devastation on land, a "Hurricane Hunter" plane from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration flew into its eye on Sunday. You can watch the video here...

Jamaica Braces for 'Extreme Devastation'

Hurricane Melissa is now strongest storm of 2025

(Newser) - Hurricane Melissa has become the planet's most powerful storm so far in 2025, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm has hit 175mph maximum sustained winds as it approaches Jamaica , making it a Category 5 hurricane. Only nine Atlantic hurricanes on record have packed stronger sustained winds, with...

Melissa Nears Jamaica as Category 5
Melissa Nears Jamaica
as Category 5
Oct 27, 2025 6:01 AM CDT

Melissa Nears Jamaica as Category 5

Hurricane to pass over island Tuesday before expected landfall in Cuba

(Newser) - Hurricane Melissa intensified to Category 5 strength Monday as it neared Jamaica with up to 30 inches of rain and a life-threatening storm surge, per the AP . Melissa is forecast to make landfall on the island Tuesday and cross Cuba and the Bahamas through Wednesday. Melissa was centered about 130...

Melissa Could Be One of the Atlantic's 'Strongest Storms Ever'

Tropical storm in central Caribbean predicted to become Category 4 hurricane—possibly 5

(Newser) - Meteorologists are sounding alarms about Tropical Storm Melissa, which has the potential to become a Category 5 hurricane—and, according to some, one of the strongest storms ever recorded in the Atlantic if the conditions are right. Now churning in the central Caribbean, the slow-moving storm's path and intensity...

Third-Fastest Woman Stuns at Son's Sports Day

Olympic champ Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce leaves other parents in the dust—again

(Newser) - It was only a sports day at her son's school, but three-time Olympic champion sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce "showed no mercy," per the Telegraph . In a 100-meter race with other parents on Wednesday, the third fastest female sprinter ever, with a time of 10.6 seconds in the...

Jamaica Hasn't Had Much to Celebrate This Olympics

Country's sprinters have more injuries than medals

(Newser) - The midpoint of the Olympic track meet used to be time for Jamaican sprint stars—Usain Bolt, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, and all the rest—to catch their breath, recover from their victory parties, then start gearing up for more. This year in Paris, there hasn't been much to celebrate, and...

These 3 Nations Get an Asterisk for Spring Break

US issues travel advisories for popular destinations Mexico, Jamaica, Bahamas over safety threats

(Newser) - For those prepping for spring break, Uncle Sam is waving the caution flag. The United States has issued travel advisories for multiple destinations popular with spring breakers, along with advice on how to stay safe if you do make the trip:
  • Mexico: AL.com reports that the US Embassy and
...

Feds on Travel to Jamaica: Reconsider That

State Department raises alert level due to high crime rates

(Newser) - Americans considering getaways to Jamaica should reconsider their plans because of crime rates so high that US government personnel are banned from visiting many areas, the State Department warns in a travel advisory . The department has raised the alert level for the Caribbean island country to a Level 3 "...

2023's World Cup Has a Cinderella Team

Women's team from Jamaica knocks Brazil out of Women's World Cup, advances to next round

(Newser) - It's been a tough battle to keep the Jamaican women's soccer team funded and functional over the years, but on Wednesday, all of those efforts paid off as the players knocked Brazil out of the Women's World Cup tournament with a 0-0 draw, advancing to the next...

As William, Kate Visit, Jamaican PM Makes Surprise Announcement

He says island will seek full independence

(Newser) - The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's trip to Jamaica might go down in history as one of the least successful royal visits on record. During an official welcome Wednesday, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness unexpectedly announced that the island nation is planning to become fully independent, which would involve...

Jamaicans to William, Kate: Say Sorry

Protests, demand for reparations in advance of duke and duchess's visit

(Newser) - Dozens of well-known leaders in Jamaica including professors and politicians are demanding an apology and slavery reparations as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge prepare for a trip to the former British colony, the AP reports. The group is rejecting the visit of Prince William and Kate scheduled for Tuesday,...

'It Will Be Fire on Ice' in Beijing for Jamaican Bobsled Team

4-man team qualifies for first time in 24 years

(Newser) - For the first time in more than two decades, a four-man bobsled team from Jamaica is heading to the Olympics. The team secured its spot in the Beijing Games on Monday, proclaiming on Instagram , "It will be fire on ice." NBC News reports the island nation’s last...

Hurdler Who Won Gold Thanks Volunteer Who Got Him to the Race

Hansle Parchment almost missed his chance at Olympic medal after he went to wrong venue

(Newser) - If your mother always told you give yourself plenty of time to get to the airport, or to your Olympic 110-meter hurdling competition, we hope you've listened. Hansle Parchment will likely leave the house way early from now on, after the Jamaican hurdler almost missed his chance to compete...

'Cultural Embarrassment:' Jamaica Running Low on Weed

Rain, drought, pandemic, legalization, fewer farmers all mean less ganja on the island

(Newser) - Jamaica is running low on ganja. Heavy rains followed by an extended drought, an increase in local consumption, and a drop in the number of marijuana farmers have caused a shortage in the island's famed but largely illegal market that experts say is the worst they've seen. "...

Rain From Latest Hurricane Could Measure in Feet, Not Inches

Hurricane Eta threatens flooding in Central America

(Newser) - Hurricane Eta erupted quickly into a potentially catastrophic major hurricane Monday as it headed for Central America, where forecasters warned of massive flooding and landslides across a vulnerable region, the AP reports. Eta was a Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 150mph late Monday, the US National Hurricane...

Powerful New Hurricane Heads to Central America

Some places could get 25 to 35 inches of rain

(Newser) - Hurricane Eta erupted quickly into a potentially catastrophic major hurricane Monday as it headed for Central America, where forecasters warned of massive flooding and landslides across a vulnerable region. Eta had maximum sustained winds of 120mph and was located about 85 miles east of the Nicaragua-Honduras border, according to the...

A Father of Reggae Is Dead at 77
A Father of Reggae
Is Dead at 77
OBITUARY
Sep 12, 2020 8:30 AM CDT

A Father of Reggae Is Dead at 77

Toots Hibbert of Toots & the Maytals had been in a medically induced coma since earlier this month

(Newser) - Toots Hibbert, one of reggae's founders and most beloved stars who gave the music its name and later helped make it an international movement through such classics as "Pressure Drop," "Monkey Man," and "Funky Kingston," has died. He was 77. Hibbert, frontman of...

7.7 Quake Triggers Tsunami Threat
7.7 Quake Triggers
Tsunami Threat
UPDATED
Jan 28, 2020 3:33 PM CST

7.7 Quake Triggers Tsunami Threat

Buildings shook as far as Miami

(Newser) - The US Geological Survey says a powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck south of Cuba and northwest of Jamaica on Tuesday, the AP reports. It was centered 86 miles northwest of Montego Bay, Jamaica, and 87 miles west-southwest of Niquero, Cuba. It hit at 2:10pm EST and the epicenter...

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