Hurricane Melissa struck Cuba early Wednesday still as a major Category 3 hurricane a day after slamming into Jamaica as one of the most powerful hurricanes on record, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The storm had 120 mph winds when it made landfall in the Cuban province of Santiago de Cuba near the city of Chivirico at 3:10 a.m.
As of the NHC’s 5 a.m. advisory, Melissa had dropped to 115 mph, just over the Category 3 threshold, located about 60 miles west of Guantanamo, Cuba and 230 miles south of the central Bahamas moving northeast at 12 mph.
Hurricane Melissa forecast path as of 5 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. (NHC)
“Melissa is expected to remain a powerful hurricane when it moves across the Bahamas later today and passes
near Bermuda on Thursday night,” said NHC senior hurricane specialist Brad Reinhart.
The storm’s forward speed is forecast to pick up in the next few days as it moves northeast.
“On the forecast track, 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,” Reinhart said.
Hurricane-force winds extend out up to 30 miles and tropical-storm-force winds extend out up to 185 miles from its center.
Major Hurricane Melissa makes a historic landfall near New Hope, Jamaica. pic.twitter.com/J95ZHPGGBD
— CIRA (@CIRA_CSU) October 28, 2025
The system is forecast to drop another 3-6 inches on Jamaica on Wednesday where totals since it began its assault could top 12-24 inches with some areas getting more than 30 inches, continuing its threat of flash floods and landslides.
Eastern Cuba would see total rainfall of 10-20 inches with some areas getting more than 25 bringing similar threats.
The southeastern Bahamas could get 5-10 inches with flash flooding possible while the Turks and Caicos could get 1-3 inches. Bermuda could see heavy rain on Thursday.
Melissa’s rain first plagued southern Hispaniola when it was in the Caribbean earlier this week, and is forecast to drop another 2-6 inches Wednesday, bringing totals across parts of Haiti and the Dominican Republic to more than 40 inches in the last several days.
Storm surge for Cuba this morning was forecast to be from 8-12 feet above normal tide levels that could bring minor coastal flooding. Storm surge of 5-8 feet is forecast for the southeastern Bahamas and 2-4 feet for the Turks and Caicos.
Hurricane Melissa made ‘catastrophic’ Jamaica landfall with Cuba, Bahamas in sights
Hundreds of thousands of people had been evacuated to shelters in Cuba.
“There will be a lot of work to do. We know there will be a lot of damage,” President Miguel Díaz-Canel said in a televised address, in which he assured that “no one is left behind and no resources are spared to protect the lives of the population.”
At the same time, he urged the population not to underestimate the power of Melissa, “the strongest ever to hit national territory.”
The storm hit western Jamaica with 185 mph winds Tuesday afternoon carving a three-hour path across the island.
🌀The Black River Police Station has become a refuge for residents whose houses have been flooded. We are sticking close to the community as we weather Hurricane Melissa together.#TrackingHurricaneMelissa#AForce4Good pic.twitter.com/JPhAHJMihm
— Jamaica Constabulary Force (@JamaicaConstab) October 28, 2025
Officials in Jamaica prepared to fan out Wednesday to assess the damage.
Extensive damage was reported in parts of Clarendon in southern Jamaica and in the southwestern parish of St. Elizabeth, which was “under water,” said Desmond McKenzie, deputy chairman of Jamaica’s Disaster Risk Management Council.
The storm also damaged four hospitals and left one without power, forcing officials to evacuate 75 patients, McKenzie said.
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More than half a million customers were without power as of late Tuesday as officials reported that most of the island experienced downed trees, power lines and extensive flooding.
The government said it hopes to reopen all of Jamaica’s airports as early as Thursday to ensure the quick distribution of emergency relief supplies.
The storm already was blamed for seven deaths in the Caribbean, including three in Jamaica, three in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic, where another person remains missing.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.