Hurricane Melissa continues its path across the Caribbean after leaving widespread destruction in multiple countries. The storm, which has been blamed for more than 30 deaths across Jamaica, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic, made landfall in Cuba early Wednesday morning as an “extremely dangerous” Category 3 hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami.
By 5 p.m. ET, Melissa had weakened to a Category 1 storm with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph, down from 100 mph earlier in the day. The storm had moved off Cuba’s northern coast and was heading toward the Bahamas at a speed of 15 mph, the NHC reported. Heavy rain, flooding, and strong winds were expected to continue through the night across the southeastern Bahamas.
The NHC warned that the storm’s center was projected to move over the southeastern or central Bahamas this evening and pass near or to the west of Bermuda by tomorrow night. Rainfall in the southeast Bahamas is forecast to total between 5 and 10 inches through Thursday morning, posing a significant flash flood risk. Hurricane conditions are expected to begin in Bermuda by Thursday and continue into the night.
Melissa made landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday around 1 p.m. ET as a Category 5 hurricane — the strongest ever recorded on the island. Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared Jamaica a disaster area, with St. Elizabeth Parish described as being “underwater.” The storm caused extensive damage across the island before moving north toward Cuba.
The National Hurricane Center described Melissa as the most powerful storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season and among the strongest hurricanes to make landfall in the Atlantic basin. Reporting from Kingston, Jamaica, NBC News correspondent George Solis said recovery efforts were underway as officials assessed the full extent of the damage.
While the storm has weakened, the NHC cautioned that damaging winds, flooding rains, and a dangerous storm surge will continue to affect the Bahamas and surrounding areas through tonight. Updated October 29, 2025, 6:27 PM EDT
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