Article first published: Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, 4 a.m. ET
Article last updated: Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, 10 a.m. ET
System type: Tropical storm
System name: Melissa
The National Hurricane Center’s 10 a.m. Saturday advisory reported that Tropical Storm Melissa is in the Caribbean Sea, 155 miles southeast of Kingston Jamaica and 235 miles southwest of Port Au Prince Haiti. With maximum sustained winds of 70 mph, it is moving west-northwest at 1 mph.
Tropical Storm Melissa is expected to strengthen.
Watches and warnings currently in effect
• Hurricane Warning for Jamaica
• Hurricane Watch for Southwestern peninsula of Haiti from the border with the Dominican Republic to Port-Au-Prince
• Tropical Storm Warning in effect for for Southwestern peninsula of Haiti from the border with the Dominican Republic to Port-Au-Prince
Meaning of the different watches and warnings
A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. A warning is typically issued 36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.
A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area.
A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.
Anyone in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, eastern Cuba, the southeastern and central Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands should monitor the progress of Melissa. Watches could be required for portions of eastern Cuba later today.
Hazards affecting land
Wind. Tropical storm conditions are expected to begin in Jamaica by tonight, with hurricane conditions expected by Sunday or Monday. Tropical storm conditions are expected and hurricane conditions are possible within the watch and warning area in Haiti later today.
Rainfall. Melissa is expected to bring total rainfall of 15 to 25 inches to portions of southern Hispaniola and Jamaica into Wednesday, with local maxima of 35 inches across eastern Jamaica and the Tiburon Peninsula of Haiti. Additional heavy rainfall is likely beyond Wednesday but exact storm totals are still uncertain. Catastrophic flash flooding and landslides are expected across southwestern Haiti and portions of Jamaica, with the possibility of catastrophic flood impacts also extending across the remainder of southern Haiti into southern Dominican Republic.
For eastern Cuba, total rainfall of 5 to 10 inches, with local amounts to 15 inches, are expected into Wednesday resulting in life-threatening flash flooding and landslides. Additional heavy rainfall is likely beyond Wednesday; uncertainty at that time range precludes exact storm totals.
For a complete forecast of rainfall associated with Melissa, please see the National Weather Service Storm Total Rainfall Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at3.shtml?rainqpf
Storm surge. Life-threatening storm surge is becoming more likely along the south coast of Jamaica later in the weekend or early next week. Peak storm surge heights could reach 7 to 11 feet above ground level, near and to the east of where the center of Melissa makes landfall. This storm surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves. There is a potential for significant storm surge along the southeast coast of Cuba early next week.
Surf. Swells generated by Melissa are expected to affect portions of Hispaniola, Jamaica, and eastern Cuba during the next several days.
Source: National Hurricane Center