Article first published: Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, 4 a.m. ET
Article last updated: Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, 4 p.m. ET
System type: Hurricane, Category 1
System name: Melissa
According to the National Hurricane Center’s 4 p.m. Wednesday advisory, several developments occurred. Melissa became a Category 3 hurricane, before weakening to a Category 2 hurricane. Then, it was downgraded to a Category 1 hurricane with sustained winds of 90 mph. Melissa left Cuba and headed to the Atlantic Ocean. Category 1 Hurricane Melissa is in the Atlantic Ocean, 80 miles southeast of the Central Bahamas and 890 miles southwest of Bermuda. The hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph, is moving to the northeast at 16 mph.
“… the core of Melissa is expected to move across the southeastern or central Bahamas this evening, and is forecast to pass near or to the west of Bermuda late Thursday and Thursday night”, forecasters stated about the hurricane.
Changes with this advisory
The government of Cuba has discontinued all Hurricane and Tropical Storm Warnings for their Cuban provinces.
The Tropical Storm Warning in effect for Haiti has been discontinued.
Watches and warnings currently in effect
• Hurricane Warning for:
• Southeastern and Central Bahamas
• Bermuda
• Tropical Storm Warning for Turks and Caicos Islands
Meaning of the different watches and warnings
A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. Residents in the Bahamas should remain sheltered. In Bermuda, preparations should be underway and be completed before anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous.
A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area.
Hazards affecting land
Wind. Hurricane conditions are occurring within the warning area in the southeastern and central Bahamas and should continue through tonight. Tropical storm conditions are ongoing in the Turks and Caicos Islands and should continue through tonight.
Hurricane conditions are now expected on Bermuda late Thursday and Thursday night with Tropical storm conditions expected earlier on Thursday.
Rainfall. Over the Southeast Bahamas, storm total rainfall of 5 to 10 inches are expected through Thursday morning, which will result in areas of flash flooding. For the Turks and Caicos rainfall totals of 1 to 3 inches are expected. Heavy rain may begin to affect Bermuda on Thursday or Thursday night. Over southern Hispaniola, additional rainfall of 1 to 2 inches are through this evening, with storm total local maxima of 40 inches. For eastern Cuba, the rainfall has subsided. However, additional scattered showers are expected through this evening, with additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches. With storm total rainfall of 10 to 20 inches, possibly up to 25 inches over mountainous terrain, the ongoing life-threatening and potentially catastrophic flash flooding and landslides will likely persist into the evening.
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. Storm surge of 4 to 7 ft above normally dry ground is possible in the southeastern Bahamas today, and minor coastal flooding is possible in the Turks and Caicos Islands today.
Surf. Swells generated by Melissa will continue to affect portions of Hispaniola, Jamaica, eastern Cuba, the Cayman Islands for the remainder of the day, will affect the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands for the next few days, and will spread toward Bermuda later this week, causing life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
Source: National Hurricane Center