WMO retires Melissa from list of hurricane names

Molly chosen to replace Melissa on 2026 Atlantic hurricane name list

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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The World Meteorological Organization has officially retired the name Melissa from the list of rotating hurricane names in the Atlantic basin, citing the death and destruction caused by the Category 5 hurricane that made landfall in Jamaica in 2025. The WMO has selected the name Molly to replace Melissa on the list, which will first be used in 2031.

Why it matters

Hurricane names are retired by the WMO when a storm is so deadly or destructive that using that name again would be insensitive. Melissa tied records for the strongest hurricane landfall in the Atlantic basin, with peak winds of 189.9 mph and a central pressure of 892 mb, making it one of the most powerful storms on record.

The details

Melissa was a Category 5 hurricane that made landfall in Jamaica in October 2025, causing over 90 deaths across the Caribbean. The storm tied Hurricane Dorian (2019) and the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane as the strongest Atlantic hurricane on record to make landfall, with peak winds of 186 mph. Melissa's central pressure of 892 mb tied the third-lowest on record, behind only Hurricane Wilma (2005) and Hurricane Gilbert (1988).

  • Melissa made landfall in Jamaica in October 2025.
  • The WMO announced the retirement of the name Melissa on March 4, 2026.

The players

World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

The United Nations agency responsible for maintaining the lists of rotating hurricane names in the Atlantic basin.

Hurricane Melissa

A Category 5 hurricane that made landfall in Jamaica in October 2025, causing over 90 deaths and tying records for the strongest Atlantic hurricane landfall.

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What’s next

The name Molly will replace Melissa on the list of rotating Atlantic hurricane names, and will first be used in 2031.

The takeaway

The retirement of the name Melissa underscores the increasing intensity and destructive power of hurricanes in the Atlantic, driven by climate change. As storms like Melissa become more common, the WMO's process of retiring hurricane names will likely continue, highlighting the need for communities to prepare for the growing threat of these powerful weather events.