Article first published: Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, 4 a.m. ET

Article last updated: Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, 10 a.m. ET

System type: Hurricane, Category 2

System name: Melissa

According to the National Hurricane Center’s 10 a.m. Wednesday advisory, Melissa left Cuba and headed to the Atlantic Ocean. Category 2 Hurricane Melissa is in the Atlantic Ocean, 150 miles south of the Central Bahamas and 1,005 miles southwest of Bermuda. The hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph, is moving to the northeast at 14 mph.

“… the core of Melissa is expected to move further offshore of Eastern Cuba this morning, move across the southeastern or central Bahamas today, and pass near or to the west of Bermuda late Thursday and Thursday night”, forecasters stated about the hurricane.

Changes with this advisory

The Meteorological Service of Bermuda has issued a Hurricane Warning for Bermuda.

Watches and warnings currently in effect

• Hurricane Warning for:

• Cuban provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo, Holguin, and Las Tunas

• Southeastern and Central Bahamas

• Bermuda

• Tropical Storm Warning for:

• Haiti

• Cuban province of Camaguey

• 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 Cuba should remain sheltered. In the Bahamas, preparations to protect life and property should be completed and residents 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 Cuba but expected to begin subsiding this afternoon. Tropical storm conditions are expected in Haiti today.

Hurricane conditions are expected in the southeastern and central Bahamas today. Tropical storm conditions are expected in the Turks and Caicos Islands today.

Hurricane conditions are now expected on Bermuda late Thursday and Thursday night with Tropical storm conditions expected earlier on Thursday.

Rainfall. For eastern Cuba, heavy rains will continue this morning, tapering off this afternoon. Storm total rainfall of 10 to 20 inches with local amounts to 25 inches over mountainous terrain is expected. This will cause life-threatening and potentially catastrophic flash flooding with numerous landslides.

Over the Southeast Bahamas, storm total rainfall of 5 to 10 inches are expected today, 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.

Rainfall has diminished across Jamaica. However, additional scattered showers are possible with additional rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches. This will bring storm total amounts to 12 to 24 inches, with isolated areas of 30 inches over mountainous terrain. Ongoing catastrophic flash flooding and numerous landslides will continue today and into tonight.

Over southern Hispaniola, additional rainfall of 4 to 6 inches are expected today, with storm total local maxima of 40 inches.

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.

Minor coastal flooding is possible in bays and inlets along the north coast of eastern Cuba and minor coastal flooding is expected along the coast of Haiti.

Surf. Swells generated by Melissa will continue to affect portions of Hispaniola, Jamaica, eastern Cuba, the Cayman Islands during the next day or so, and now affecting the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands, and will spread toward Bermuda later this week, causing life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Source: National Hurricane Center