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

System type: Hurricane, Category 3

System name: Melissa

According to the National Hurricane Center’s 4 a.m. Wednesday advisory, Melissa found new strength and had evolved from hurricane into a Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds of 115 mph. Category 3 Hurricane Melissa is 60 miles west of Guantanamo Cuba and 230 miles south of the Central Bahamas. The hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph, is moving to the northeast at 12 mph.

“… the core of Melissa is expected to cross eastern Cuba this morning, move across the southeastern or central Bahamas later today, and pass near or to the west of Bermuda late Thursday and Thursday night”, forecasters stated about the hurricane. They also said “Melissa is expected to remain a powerful hurricane when it moves across the Bahamas later today and passes near Bermuda on Thursday night.”

Yesterday (Wednesday)

Melissa approached Cuba’s coastline from the Caribbean Sea.

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

• Hurricane Watch for Bermuda

• Tropical Storm Warning for:

• Jamaica

• 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 rushed to completion.

A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area. A watch is typically issued 48 hours before the 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. Damaging winds are subsiding across Jamaica, but residents are advised to remain in a safe shelter until sunrise.

Hurricane conditions are occurring within the warning area in Cuba. Tropical storm conditions are expected in Haiti today.

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

Hurricane conditions are possible on Bermuda late Thursday and Thursday night.

Rainfall. Melissa is expected to bring an additional 3 to 6 inches across Jamaica, where storm total amounts will be between 12 to 24 inches. Isolated areas near 30 inches will be possible over mountainous terrain. Ongoing catastrophic flash flooding and numerous landslides will continue today and into tonight.

For eastern Cuba, storm total rainfall of 10 to 20 inches are expected through today with local amounts to 25 inches expected over mountainous terrain. This will cause life-threatening and potentially catastrophic flash flooding with numerous landslides.

Over the Southeastern 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.

Over southern Hispaniola, additional rainfall of 2 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. There is a potential for significant storm surge along the southeast coast of Cuba this morning. Peak storm surge heights could reach 8 to 12 feet above normal tide levels, near and to the east of where the center of Melissa made landfall. This storm surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves. Minor coastal flooding is possible in bays and inlets along the north coast of eastern Cuba.

Storm surge of 5 to 8 ft above normally dry ground is possible in the southeastern Bahamas today, and 2 to 4 ft above normally dry ground is possible in the Turks and Caicos Islands today.

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, and the Cayman Islands during the next day or so, causing life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. These swells are beginning to reach the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands, and will spread toward Bermuda later this week.

Source: National Hurricane Center