Windsor residents with family in Jamaica are anxiously waiting for updates as Hurricane Melissa, the strongest storm on Earth so far this year, tears across the island with catastrophic winds and flooding. Steve Bramwell, owner of Stelly’s Cuisine and Catering, a Jamaican restaurant on Tecumseh Road West, said he last spoke with his mother Wednesday night. “Last night was around, I think after nine somewhere about, was the last time I spoke to my mum,” Bramwell told CTV News. “We spoke last night, and then I haven’t heard anything from her this morning, but I just hope all is well.” Bramwell said his family has endured many hurricanes before but never one of this magnitude. “We wish all the best throughout this hurricane and that everybody will come out safely on the other side when this is all said and done,” he said. “Our prayers are with them as they face this time of hurricane season and what’s happening. God will work it out. As you know, we trust in him as always.” He’s urging those in Jamaica to stay safe and follow official instructions. “Just follow the laws, the rules, and obey whatever the instructions are,” Bramwell said. “And as I said, hope for the best.” CTV Windsor meteorologist Gary Archibald said Hurricane Melissa is a historic storm, and the most powerful on the planet this year. “It’s the most powerful storm on planet Earth this year of 2025,” Archibald said. “It’s really not going to have any impact over land in Canada. The steering wind patterns will keep it out over the Atlantic. The next stop is eastern Cuba, the Bahamas, and then it may even make a beeline towards Bermuda and stay out over the open Atlantic.” He said the only Canadian effects could be higher wave activity along the Atlantic coast. “The worst of it is the Atlantic coast will get some pretty good wave heights out of it,” Archibald said. “The surfers are going to love it.” At Valente Travel in Windsor, owner and president Al Valente says the storm has already prompted concern among travellers. “We are definitely warning our clients,” Valente explained. “Unfortunately, the tour operators wait until it’s a state of emergency to allow clients to change. But the moment they can change, we can tell our clients and do the appropriate measures. Otherwise, they’d have to take it into their own hands.” Valente said one customer chose to leave early as a precaution. “We had one client a few days ago that wanted to come back early, but the tour operator wasn’t cooperating as of yet, so he used his own money to come back early,” Valente said. “This is the worst hurricane to hit Jamaica since 1988, I believe. So, we definitely are praying for our tourist friends and the whole country down in Jamaica that they go through this safely.” Windsor resident Colin Vassell also spoke with AM800 about his sister, who lives in Redbury, Jamaica, an area expected to see heavy rain and flooding. “With the amount of rain, they’re going to be getting, there’s guaranteed to be a lot of flooding and hopefully not that many landslides,” he said. “Believe it or not, when I spoke to my sister, she’s a prayer warrior. She was actually laughing with me saying that no matter what, God is going to take her through and it’s all in God’s hands. So that’s what we’re doing. We’re just praying and hoping for the best.” As the powerful storm continues its path across the Caribbean, Windsor’s Jamaican community is united in one thing. Prayer and hope for the safety of loved ones back home.
