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

Article last updated: Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, 4 p.m. ET

System type: Hurricane, Category 2

System name: Melissa

The National Hurricane Center’s 4 p.m. Thursday advisory reported that Category 2 Hurricane Melissa is in the Atlantic Ocean, 325 miles west-southwest of Bermuda. The hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph, is moving to the northeast at 31 mph.

“A gradual turn toward the east-northeast is expected on Sunday”, according to meteorologists. “On the forecast track, the center of Melissa is expected to pass to the northwest of Bermuda this evening and tonight.” They also said “Little change in strength is likely through evening, but a weakening trend is expected to begin by early 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.

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 shortly after sunset today.

After Melissa becomes post-tropical, a brief period of heavy rain and gusty winds is possible over the southern Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland Friday night. For more information on impacts in Canada, see the Canadian Hurricane Center website at https://weather.gc.ca/hurricane/index_e.html

Hazards affecting land

Wind. Tropical storm conditions will begin on Bermuda by early this evening, with hurricane conditions expected there tonight. Gusty winds are possible over the southern Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland Friday night.

Rainfall. For Bermuda, outer bands of Melissa may bring 1 to 2 inches of rain through tonight.

A brief period of heavy rain is possible over the southern Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland Friday night.

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. 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, the Turks and Caicos Islands and Bermuda during the next couple of days. Swells generated by Melissa are also likely to reach the coast of the Northeastern United States and Atlantic Canada Friday and persist into the weekend. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Source: National Hurricane Center