Article first published: Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, 4 a.m. ET

System type: Hurricane, Category 2

System name: Melissa

The National Hurricane Center’s 4 a.m. Thursday advisory reported that Category 2 Hurricane Melissa is in the Atlantic Ocean, 215 miles northeast of the Central Bahamas and 685 miles southwest of Bermuda. The hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph, is moving to the north-northeast at 21 mph.

“… the center of Melissa is expected to pass to the northwest of Bermuda later today and tonight”, analysts explained about the hurricane. They also said “Slight strengthening is possible today before weakening likely begins on Friday.”

Yesterday (Wednesday)

There were a lot of changes. Melissa developed into a Category 3 hurricane, before devolving to a Category 2 hurricane. It eventually became a Category 1 hurricane before being upgraded to a Category 2 hurricane with sustained winds of 100 mph.

Changes with this advisory

The government of the Bahamas has discontinued the Hurricane Warning for the central and southeastern Bahamas. The Tropical Storm Warning has been discontinued for the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Watches and warnings currently in effect

• Hurricane Warning for Bermuda

Meaning of the different watches and warnings

A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. Preparations should be rushed to completion in Bermuda before tropical-storm-force winds reach the island later today.

Hazards affecting land

Wind. Tropical storm conditions will begin on Bermuda later today, with hurricane conditions expected there tonight.

Rainfall. Over the Southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos, an additional inch of rain is possible, with storm total maxima up to 10 inches in the southeast Bahamas and storm total maxima up to 4 inches across the Turks and Caicos. Any residual flooding should be waning.

Over portions of Hispaniola, additional rainfall of 1 to 3 inches is possible this morning, with storm total accumulations up to 40 inches in southern Hispaniola.

Across Bermuda, outer bands east of Melissa’s track may bring up to an inch (25 mm) of rain today and tonight.

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. Water levels should continue to subside through the morning for the southeastern Bahamas. Coastal flooding from storm surge is possible in areas of onshore winds for Bermuda.

Surf. Swells generated by Melissa will continue to affect portions of Hispaniola, Cuba, the Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands during the next couple of days, and will spread toward Bermuda later today, causing life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Source: National Hurricane Center