The St. James Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) has been activated,  providing a multi-agency response to Tropical Storm Melissa. Operating from the fourth floor of the St. James Municipal Corporation building in Montego Bay, the centre is a centralised command where a broad coalition of representatives from critical public and private agencies and non-government partners, will monitor and direct preparedness and...

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, is urging national solidarity as Jamaica prepares for the impact of Tropical Storm Melissa, which is forecast to strengthen into a Category Four hurricane. Addressing a press conference at Jamaica House on Saturday (October 25), Dr. Holness indicated that he was scheduled to meet with Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Mark Golding,...

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) has activated the National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) at high alert as Hurricane Melissa rapidly intensifies into a major hurricane. The Parish Emergency Operations Centers & all Emergency Shelters have been activated. The National Emergency Management Mechanism Activation levels are as follows: LEVEL PHASE STAFF Level 1 Monitoring Phase ODPEM staff...

Jamaica’s two major airports will remain open Saturday (Oct. 25) for scheduled flights as Tropical Storm Melissa approaches the island. However, the Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) in Kingston will be closed after Saturday’s last scheduled arriving flight. Minister of Energy, Telecommunications and Transport, Hon. Daryl Vaz, who gave the update during a special press briefing at the Office of...

The Airports Authority of Jamaica (AAJ) acknowledges the update from the Meteorological Service of Jamaica (Met Service) which has changed Jamaica’s status from a Hurricane Watch to a Hurricane Warning as of Friday, October 24th 2025 @ 8pm. In light of this, the Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) will close at 8:00pm, today, October 25, 2025. Decisions for possible closure...

Tourism stakeholders across the island are adopting an all-hands-on-deck approach as the sector braces for the impact of Tropical Storm Melissa. Speaking to JIS News on Friday (Oct. 24),  Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) Area Chairperson for Montego Bay, Kerry Ann Quallo Casserly, said that there has been a high-level of preparedness, marked by regular meetings and continuous dialogue...

Tropical Storm Melissa is expected to become a hurricane today (Oct. 25) and a major hurricane by Sunday (Oct. 26) . “It is expected to continue moving westward and the point that is just south of Clarendon, the centre of the island, is where we expect it to become a major hurricane,” said Director of the Meteorological Service of Jamaica,...