Melissa retired from hurricane names list

The World Meteorological Organization has retired the name "Melissa" from future storm name lists. This decision followed the catastrophic destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa during the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season.

The National Hurricane Center reported that Hurricane Melissa reached peak winds of 190 miles per hour, making it one of the most intense storms ever recorded in the Atlantic basin.

Melissa is the strongest hurricane on record to make landfall in Jamaica.

The storm underwent rapid intensification before slamming into Jamaica as a Category 5 hurricane, bringing catastrophic winds, life-threatening storm surge, and widespread flooding.

Melissa is tied for the strongest hurricane in terms of maximum sustained wind speed to make landfall in the Atlantic basin, equaling the strength of Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas and the Labor Day Hurricane in the Florida Keys.

The retirement of the name “Melissa” reflects the storm’s devastating impact. When a hurricane is particularly deadly or costly, its name is permanently removed to avoid confusion and out of sensitivity to those affected.

The name "Melissa" will be replaced by "Molly" starting in 2031, when the six-year Atlantic naming list cycles back around.

This marks the 100th name to be retired in the Atlantic basin since the current naming system began in 1953.