PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Hurricane Melissa is now among the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes on record.

The monster storm strengthened on Tuesday before hitting Jamaica, bringing with it maximum sustained winds of 185 mph (295 kph). It’s the strongest Atlantic hurricane to make landfall since Hurricane Dorian battered the Bahamas in 2019.

What started as a tropical birthday trip for Alexis Maldonado and Tavianna Smith quickly turned into a nightmare when they became stranded in Jamaica during the storm.

The pair booked a trip to Montego Bay for Smith’s 28th birthday and were supposed to return to Phoenix this past Sunday, but the Montego Bay airport closed that day.

“We tried multiple airlines booking. We spent thousands of dollars trying to get out,” Maldonado said. “We were getting f

See Full Page