WESH 2’s award-winning First Warning Weather team is monitoring Hurricane Melissa as it continues to strengthen. Melissa has strengthened into a Category 5 storm according to the National Hurricane Center. Melissa has 160 mph winds and is moving west at about 3 mph, with its center about 130 miles south-southwest of Kingston, Jamaica.The storm has a minimum central pressure of 917 mb as of the 5 a.m. NHC update. Watches and warnings in effect:Hurricane Warning in effect for JamaicaHurricane Warning in effect for Cuban provinces of Granma, Guantanamo and Holguin, Santiago de Cuba.Hurricane Watch in effect for southeastern and central Bahamas, Turks & Caicos Island.Tropical Storm Warning in effect for Haiti and the Cuban province of Las TunasRainMelissa is expected to bring rainfall of 15 to 30 inches to portions of Jamaica and additional rainfall of 8 to 16 inches for southern Hispaniola through Wednesday.Catastrophic flash flooding and numerous landslides are likely.For eastern Cuba, storm total rainfall of 10 to 15 inches, with local amounts of 20 inches, is expected by Monday into Wednesday resulting in life-threatening and potentially catastrophic flash flooding with numerous landslides.Over the Southeast Bahamas, total rainfall of 4 to 8 inches is expected Tuesday into Wednesday resulting in areas of flash flooding.Hurricane season 2025The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. Stay with WESH 2 online and on-air for the most accurate Central Florida weather forecast.>> More: 2025 Hurricane Survival GuideThe First Warning Weather team includes First Warning Chief Meteorologist Tony Mainolfi, Eric Burris, Marquise Meda and Cam Tran.>> 2025 hurricane season | WESH long-range forecast>> Download Very Local | Stream Central Florida news and weather from WESH 2
ORLANDO, Fla. —
WESH 2’s award-winning First Warning Weather team is monitoring Hurricane Melissa as it continues to strengthen.
Melissa has strengthened into a Category 5 storm according to the National Hurricane Center.
Melissa has 160 mph winds and is moving west at about 3 mph, with its center about 130 miles south-southwest of Kingston, Jamaica.
The storm has a minimum central pressure of 917 mb as of the 5 a.m. NHC update.
Watches and warnings in effect:Hurricane Warning in effect for JamaicaHurricane Warning in effect for Cuban provinces of Granma, Guantanamo and Holguin, Santiago de Cuba.Hurricane Watch in effect for southeastern and central Bahamas, Turks & Caicos Island.Tropical Storm Warning in effect for Haiti and the Cuban province of Las Tunas
Rain
Melissa is expected to bring rainfall of 15 to 30 inches to portions of Jamaica and additional rainfall of 8 to 16 inches for southern Hispaniola through Wednesday.
Catastrophic flash flooding and numerous landslides are likely.
For eastern Cuba, storm total rainfall of 10 to 15 inches, with local amounts of 20 inches, is expected by Monday into Wednesday resulting in life-threatening and potentially catastrophic flash flooding with numerous landslides.
Over the Southeast Bahamas, total rainfall of 4 to 8 inches is expected Tuesday into Wednesday resulting in areas of flash flooding.
Hurricane season 2025
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. Stay with WESH 2 online and on-air for the most accurate Central Florida weather forecast.
>> More: 2025 Hurricane Survival Guide
The First Warning Weather team includes First Warning Chief Meteorologist Tony Mainolfi, Eric Burris, Marquise Meda and Cam Tran.
>> 2025 hurricane season | WESH long-range forecast
>> Download Very Local | Stream Central Florida news and weather from WESH 2