Hurricane Melissa, a catastrophic Category 5 storm, made landfall in southwestern Jamaica on October 28, 2025. This storm is one of the strongest hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean, and the strongest to directly hit Jamaica in recorded history. Melissa pummeled Jamaica with sustained winds over 300 kilometers per hour, with the strongest gusts recorded at 406 kilometers per hour. The storm caused extensive damage, leading to the tragic loss of life, the loss of homes, livelihoods, and critical infrastructure.

Mount Ward Primary School was not spared and also experienced considerable damage.