Hurricane Melissa Slams Jamaica as a Category 5 Storm, Expected to Impact Cuba and the Bahamas Next
By Space Coast Daily // October 28, 2025
ABOVE VIDEO: Hurricane Melissa makes landfall in Jamaica as Category 5 storm moving through Caribbean (KATU News Video)
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Hurricane Melissa continues its devastating march across the Caribbean, making landfall over western Jamaica this afternoon as a Category 5 storm with maximum sustained winds near 165 mph.
The hurricane’s eye was located near latitude 18.2 North and longitude 78.0 West at 2 p.m. EDT, moving north-northeast at about 8 mph.
The National Hurricane Center reports that Melissa will cross western Jamaica in the next few hours before re-entering the Caribbean Sea. The storm is forecast to move across southeastern Cuba early Wednesday morning and reach the southeastern or central Bahamas later in the day. Although some weakening is expected while passing over land, Melissa will remain an extremely dangerous hurricane as it continues northeastward through midweek.
Hurricane warnings are in effect for Jamaica, the Cuban provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, Holguín, and Las Tunas, as well as the southeastern and central Bahamas. Tropical storm warnings extend to Haiti, the Cuban province of Camagüey, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Residents in the warning zones have been urged to rush all preparations to completion and remain in safe shelter.
The storm’s central pressure has dropped to 899 millibars, underscoring its incredible intensity. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center, while tropical-storm-force winds reach nearly 200 miles. Catastrophic damage is expected near Melissa’s path across Jamaica, with total structural failure possible, especially in mountainous areas where wind speeds can be significantly stronger.
Melissa is forecast to bring extreme rainfall across the region. Jamaica could see 15 to 30 inches of rain, with localized totals up to 40 inches, leading to catastrophic flash flooding and landslides. Southern Hispaniola, including Haiti, is expected to receive 6 to 8 inches, while eastern Cuba could see 10 to 20 inches, with local peaks up to 25 inches. The southeastern Bahamas may experience 5 to 10 inches of rain, and the Turks and Caicos Islands could see 2 to 4 inches. Heavy rain is expected to reach Bermuda by Thursday night.
A life-threatening storm surge is underway along Jamaica’s southern coast, where waters could rise 9 to 13 feet above ground level, accompanied by destructive waves. The southeastern coast of Cuba faces the threat of an 8 to 12-foot surge, while the southeastern Bahamas could see surges of 5 to 8 feet. Minor coastal flooding is also expected along Haiti’s coast.
Swells generated by Melissa are producing dangerous surf and rip currents across Jamaica, Hispaniola, eastern Cuba, and the Cayman Islands. These hazardous conditions will spread to the Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and Bermuda later this week.
Residents across the Caribbean are urged to remain vigilant and follow guidance from local meteorological agencies as Hurricane Melissa continues its destructive path through the region.
