Jamaica's Hurricane History Includes Several Near Misses

Hurricane Melissa is barreling right toward Jamaica, threatening life and property with its flooding rainfall, destructive winds, and high storm surge. Despite its location in the heart of the Caribbean, the island of Jamaica has managed to dodge the most powerful hurricanes. That does not mean that the country has not seen its fair share of tropical weather events. Here is a look at the storied history of tropical weather impacting Jamaica.

Category 3 Strikes in Jamaica

According to records from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) dating back to 1850, Jamaica has sustained four Category 3 landfalls. Hurricane Gilbert remains the deadliest and costliest storm to hit Jamaica. The 1988 storm roared across the whole island, killing 45 people and tallying up to $700 million worth of damage in 1988 dollars. The eyewall went right over the capital city of Kingston, amplifying the destruction.