Hurricane Melissa has strengthened into an “extremely dangerous” category 4 hurricane on its approach towards eastern Cuba after striking Jamaica as one of the most powerful storms in the Atlantic Basin.
The National Hurricane Center said the hurricane was “re-strengthening” ahead of the landfall, packing maximum sustained winds 130mph.
The hurricane made landfall in Jamaica earlier as a category 5 storm with 185mph winds near New Hope.
At least seven people have died across the Caribbean – three in Jamaica, three in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic.
Melissa is expected to remain a “powerful” storm as it moves across Cuba, the Bahamas and near Bermuda, the NHC said.“It will be the storm of the century for sure,” World Meteorological Organization tropical cyclone specialist Anne-Claire Fontan said before the storm pummelled Jamaica.
In Cuba, residents have been told to “seek shelter immediately”, while authorities in the Bahamas are urging people to complete preparations to protect life and property.
Key Points
- Hurricane Melissa is gaining strength as it approaches Cuba
- Hurricane Melissa mapped
- Where are Hurricane Warnings in effect?
- Hurricane Melissa to make landfall in Cuba
- Hurricane Melissa is now a Category 3 storm
- Death toll brought to seven — even before the storm made landfall
In pictures: Cubans prepare for Hurricane Melissa
04:01 , Katie Hawkinson
Officials warn of landslides in Jamaica and Cuba
03:30 , Katie HawkinsonThe National Hurricane Center says landslides are expected in both Jamaica and Cuba as Hurricane Melissa batters the Caribbean.
The storm, which is now a Category 3 hurricane, is expected to reach Cuba early Wednesday.
Hurricane Melissa is gaining strength as it approaches Cuba
03:12 , Shweta SharmaThe US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Melissa is “re-strengthening as it approaches Eastern Cuba”.
The storm is expected to make landfall as an "extremely dangerous major hurricane" in the next few hours, it said.
The hurricane is about 110miles (175km) southwest of Guantanamo, Cuba, and about 300miles (485km) off the central Bahamas.
Thousands of British tourists stranded as Hurricane Melissa devastates Jamaica
03:04 , Shweta SharmaAround 8,000 British holidaymakers remain stranded in Jamaica after powerful Hurricane Melissa tore through the Caribbean island.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) urged British nationals to register their presence on the government website to receive updates and assistance as authorities have ordered people to stay indoors as the storm, the world’s strongest so far this year, continues to wreak havoc.
“The FCDO stands ready to help British nationals 24/7. We have set up a crisis centre in the Foreign Office, including with support from the Ministry of Defence, and we are positioning specialist rapid deployment teams to provide consular assistance in the region," foreign secretary Yvette Cooper said.
Ms Cooper added that up to 50,000 dual nationals live in Jamaica, alongside thousands of visiting British citizens who may be affected by the disaster.
Some Britons have expressed frustration at the government’s response.
David Rowe, an IT manager from Hertfordshire, said he felt “completely let down” after paying £3,500 for last-minute flights home before airports shut.“
The advice should have come last week – ‘don’t travel’ – because many travel companies rely on FCDO guidance,” Mr Rowe told the PA news agency.
“This could have been prevented with better action from the UK government.”
How much rainfall is expected in Jamaica and Cuba?
03:00 , Katie HawkinsonAs Hurricane Melissa moves away from Jamaica, the nation is expected to see a total of 24 inches of rainfall, with 30 inches in isolated areas possible, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The storm is now heading for Cuba, where the National Hurricane Center is expecting 20 inches of rainfall through Wednesday, with 25 inches possible in mountainous areas.
Comment: What it is like to be in the path of 185mph Hurricane Melissa
02:30 , Katie HawkinsonAnnie Paul writes from Kingston, Jamaica, detailing the devastation from Hurricane Melissa:
What it is like to be in the path of 185mph Hurricane Melissa
Americans describe impact of Hurricane Melissa
02:27 , Katie HawkinsonAmericans Peter and Dahlia Kong, who are visiting Jamaica, told CNN they are stuck in the country with five children under the age of five.
“We’ve got a bunch of little babies with us, we’ve got five kids under five,” Peter said. “So we were very scared about the little ones.”
When asked about his biggest fear, Peter said he’s concerned about the uncertainty in the aftermath of the storm.
“The aftermath is usually where the worst of the worst comes out of people, especially being in a hotel, you know, where there's a lot of tourists, when food becomes scarce,” he said. “You know, the people are, you know, I’m sad to say, the people are the ones that I'm watching for the most.”
The family is hoping to fly out of Jamaica on Thursday, Dahlia added.
Trump says U.S. will send aid to Jamaica
02:03 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Donald Trump told reporters on Air Force One that the U.S. will provide aid to Jamaica in the wake of Hurricane Melissa.
“On a humanitarian basis, we have to,” Trump said on Tuesday evening. “So we're watching it closely, and we're prepared to move, but you know, it's doing tremendous damage as we speak.”
Photos show Hurricane Melissa's impact on the Caribbean
01:53 , Katie HawkinsonHurricane Melissa battered Jamaica on Tuesday, making landfall as a Category 5 storm with 185 mph winds.
Now, photos are emerging from the Caribbean as the storm moves toward Cuba.
Read more:
Mapped: Hurricane Melissa's projected path
01:27 , Katie HawkinsonHurricane Melissa is now moving away from Jamaica and heading toward eastern Cuba, the National Hurricane Center said on Tuesday night.
The storm, which is now Category 3, is expected to make landfall either late Tuesday or early Wednesday.
Jamaica launches website to coordinate Hurricane Melissa support
01:12 , Katie HawkinsonThe Jamaican government has launched a new website that will help coordinate support and recovery efforts in Hurricane Melissa’s aftermath.
“Today, I’m pleased to announce the launch of supportjamaica.gov.jm, the Government of Jamaica’s official platform to coordinate relief, mobilize support, and manage recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Melissa,” Prime Minister Andrew Holness said.
'Significant' storm surge expected in Cuba
00:45 , Katie HawkinsonThe National Hurricane Center expects “significant” storm surge in Cuba as Hurricane Melissa moves over the nation.
“There is a potential for significant storm surge along the southeast coast of Cuba through early Wednesday,” the agency said on Tuesday night. “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 makes 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.”
In pictures: Hurricane Melissa batters Jamaica
00:25 , Katie Hawkinson
Hurricane Melissa now a Category 3 storm as it heads toward Cuba
Tuesday 28 October 2025 23:54 , Katie HawkinsonHurricane Melissa is now a Category 3 storm with 125 mph winds, according to an 8 p.m. update from the National Hurricane Center.
The storm is still expected to move over eastern Cuba late tonight and early Wednesday morning. It will remain a “powerful” storm as it moves across Cuba, the Bahamas, and near Bermuda, the agency said.
“Residents in Jamaica should remain in a safe shelter. In the warning area in Cuba, residents should seek safe shelter immediately,” the agency said. “In the Bahamas, preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.”
How much rain is expected in Cuba?
Tuesday 28 October 2025 23:36 , Katie HawkinsonUp to 20 inches of rainfall is expected in eastern Cuba through Wednesday, with up to 25 inches possible in the mountains, the National Hurricane Center said on Tuesday.
“This will cause life-threatening and potentially catastrophic flash flooding with numerous landslides,” the agency said.
Hurricane Melissa is expected to make landfall in Cuba early Wednesday morning.
Watch: Hurricane Melissa hits Jamaica
Tuesday 28 October 2025 23:18 , Katie HawkinsonHurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday afternoon and is now moving toward eastern Cuba.
Internet usage drops in Jamaica
Tuesday 28 October 2025 23:01 , Katie HawkinsonInternet outages are growing in Jamaica as Hurricane Melissa batters the island, according to NetBlocks, an internet monitoring group.
Connectivity in the nation is down to 42 percent of typical levels, the organization said on Tuesday afternoon.
Jamaica going through 'one of its worst periods'
Tuesday 28 October 2025 22:51 , Katie HawkinsonDesmond McKenzie, Jamaica’s Minister of Local Government and Community Development, said Tuesday the nation is going through one of its worst periods as Hurricane Melissa batters the island.
“Jamaica has gone through what I can call one of its worst periods,” he said. “Our infrastructure has been severely compromised.”
“Saint Elizabeth is the breadbasket of the country, and that has taken a beating,” he continued. “The entire Jamaica has felt the brunt of Melissa.”
Jamaican hospitals devastated
Tuesday 28 October 2025 22:44 , Katie HawkinsonSeveral Jamaican hospitals have been devastated by Hurricane Melissa, according to Desmond McKenzie, Jamaica’s Minister of Local Government and Community Development.
The Black River Hospital in St. Elizabeth Parish is “without power” and had a section of its roof damaged on Tuesday, McKenzie said.
Falmouth Hospital, which is in northern Jamaica, was “affected by storm surge and high water level” nearby, according to McKenzie. The Cornwall Regional Hospital was also impacted by “flooding and strong winds,” he explained.
More than 500,000 Jamaicans without power
Tuesday 28 October 2025 22:37 , Katie HawkinsonAbout 15,000 Jamaicans are currently in shelters, according to Desmond McKenzie, Jamaica’s Minister of Local Government and Community Development.
There are also more than 530,000 people without electricity on the island, McKenzie said at a Tuesday afternoon press conference.
Hurricane Melissa underwent extreme rapid intensification
Tuesday 28 October 2025 22:18 , Katie HawkinsonHurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica today as one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record.
The storm went through a process called extreme rapid intensification, which means it gained at least 58 mph in wind speed over just 24 hours.
Read more about this record-setting storm:
Melissa is a beast among a string of monster Atlantic storms. Scientists explain
What to expect from Hurricane Melissa tonight
Tuesday 28 October 2025 22:00 , Katie HawkinsonHurricane Melissa has started to move away from Jamaica and is now moving towards eastern Cuba.
The National Hurricane Center has provided a summary of need-to-know information about the devastating storm this evening:
Preparation in the Bahamas for Hurricane Melissa should be completed tonight: NHC
Tuesday 28 October 2025 21:50 , Katie HawkinsonAs Hurricane Melissa moves away from Jamaica, the National Hurricane Center has warned that “preparations to protect life and property” in the Bahamas should be completed by tonight.
A Hurricane Warning is currently in effect for the southeastern and central Bahamas.
What watches and warnings are in effect?
Tuesday 28 October 2025 21:39 , Katie HawkinsonThe National Hurricane Center issued an updated list of the watches and warnings that are in effect.
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for:
- Jamaica
- Cuban provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo, Holguin, and Las Tunas
- Southeastern and Central Bahamas
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for:
- Bermuda
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:
- Haiti
- Cuban province of Camaguey
- Turks and Caicos Islands
Hurricane Melissa to make landfall in Cuba early Wednesday morning
Tuesday 28 October 2025 21:19 , Katie HawkinsonNational Hurricane Center Director Michael Brennan said Hurricane Melissa will likely make landfall in southeastern Cuba early Wednesday morning.
“The center of Melissa is expected to make landfall somewhere along the southeastern coast of Cuba in the early morning hours of Wednesday as a powerful major hurricane,” Brennan said during a 5:15 p.m. update.
Hurricane Melissa's center to move off Jamaica tonight
Tuesday 28 October 2025 21:12 , Katie HawkinsonHurricane Melissa’s center will move off Jamaica this evening before heading toward Cuba, according to the National Hurricane Center.
"On the forecast track, the core of Melissa will move away from western Jamaica this evening,” the agency said. “After that, the center is expected to move over southeastern Cuba later tonight and early Wednesday morning, move across the southeastern or central Bahamas later on Wednesday, and approach Bermuda Thursday and Thursday night."
The Southeastern and Central Bahamas, as well as the Cuban provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo, Holguin, and Las Tunas, are under a hurricane warning as of Tuesday evening.
25,000 tourists currently in Jamaica
Tuesday 28 October 2025 20:58 , Katie HawkinsonThere are about 25,000 tourists currently in Jamaica, according to Dr. Dana Morris Dixon, the country’s minister for education, skills, youth and information.
Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica earlier today.
Influencer under fire after complaining Hurricane Melissa ‘messed with’ her vacation in Jamaica
Tuesday 28 October 2025 20:45 , Brittany MillerAn influencer is facing backlash over her series of posts complaining about being on vacation in Jamaica as Hurricane Melissa batters the region.
Influencer under fire after complaining Hurricane Melissa ‘messed with’ her vacation
NHC advises residents to protect themselves amid devastating winds
Tuesday 28 October 2025 20:34 , Katie HawkinsonAs Hurricane Melissa batters Jamaica with 150 mph winds, the National Hurricane Center has advised residents to protect themselves by wearing helmets or using mattresses as shields.
“To protect yourself from wind, the best thing you can do is put as many walls as possible between you and the outside,” the agency said. “An interior room without windows, ideally one where you can also avoid falling trees, is the safest place you can be in a building. You can cover yourself with a mattress and wear a helmet for added protection.”
How Hurricane Melissa could turn US soldiers’ attention from bombing ‘drug boats’ to humanitarian aid
Tuesday 28 October 2025 20:22 , Isabel KeanePresident Donald Trump’s military campaign against alleged drug trafficking boats in the Caribbean may soon clash with U.S. humanitarian efforts as Hurricane Melissa rips across Jamaica as one of the most powerful storms on record, according to a report.
Keep reading:
Hurricane Melissa could turn US attention from ‘drug boats’ to humanitarian aid
Hurricane Melissa now Category 4
Tuesday 28 October 2025 20:09 , Katie HawkinsonHurricane Melissa is now a Category 4 storm, with maximum sustained winds at 150 mph, according to a 4 p.m. update from the National Hurricane Center.
The storm is still “extremely dangerous and life-threatening,” the agency warned.
Melissa made landfall near New Hope, Jamaica, on Tuesday afternoon as a Category 5 storm with 185 mph winds.
Watch: Hurricane Melissa tracked by storm hunters flying into its eye
Tuesday 28 October 2025 20:03 , Katie HawkinsonJamaican health ministry warns residents about displaced crocodiles
Tuesday 28 October 2025 19:52 , Katie HawkinsonJamaica’s South East Regional Health Authority has warned residents to watch out for displaced crocodiles amid Hurricane Melissa.
“Rising water levels in river, gullies, and swamps could cause crocodiles to move into residential areas in search of dry ground,” the agency said. “Residents living near these areas are therefore advised to remain vigilant and avoid flood-waters.”
Residents should not try to capture or harm any displaced crocodiles, the agency noted.
Assessing damage to Jamaica could take weeks, expert says
Tuesday 28 October 2025 19:39 , Katie HawkinsonNational Hurricane Center Director Michael Brennan told CNN it could take weeks to fully assess the damage to Jamaica in the wake of Hurricane Melissa.
“It may take days to weeks to fully capture the scope of what’s happening here and what’s happening in the next few hours,” he said.
The storm made landfall with 185 mph winds on Tuesday afternoon.
Full story: Hurricane Melissa makes landfall in Jamaica with 185mph winds as thousands flee homes
Tuesday 28 October 2025 19:30 , Maira Butt, Jane DaltonThe “storm of the century” made landfall in western Jamaica on Tuesday afternoon as thousands of people were warned to flee before destructive winds, flash flooding and landslides caused catastrophic damage.
At least seven people have been killed so far – three in Jamaica, three in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic – after Hurricane Melissa intensified. One person is missing.
Keep reading:
Hurricane Melissa makes landfall in Jamaica with 185mph winds as thousands flee homes
In pictures: Hurricane Melissa forces evacuations in Cuba
Tuesday 28 October 2025 19:25 , Katie Hawkinson
Starlink provides free service for residents of Jamaica and Bahamas impacted by storm
Tuesday 28 October 2025 19:15 , Kelly RissmanElon Musk’s Starlink, a satellite internet company, is offering free service for residents in Jamaica and Bahamas impacted by the Category 5 storm.
“For those impacted by Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica and the Bahamas, Starlink service is now free through the end of November to help with response and recovery efforts,” the company said in an X post.
Melissa made landfall Tuesday afternoon in Jamaica, bringing catastrophic flooding and winds to the island. Even before it made landfall, Jamaica officials said 240,000 JPS customers were without power, as of Tuesday morning.
The storm is on track to hit Cuba Wednesday morning and then the Bahamas later in the day, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Starlink doesn’t currently provide service in Cuba.
For those impacted by Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica and the Bahamas, Starlink service is now free through the end of November to help with response and recovery efforts → https://t.co/fUko3xSviJ
— Starlink (@Starlink) October 28, 2025
National Hurricane Center issues latest update
Tuesday 28 October 2025 19:08 , Katie HawkinsonHurricane Melissa’s maximum sustained winds are now at 160 miles per hour, according to a 3 p.m. update from the National Hurricane Center.
“THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION! Do not leave your shelter as the eye passes over, as winds will rapidly increase on the other side of the eye,” the agency said.
Hurricane Melissa made landfall in southwestern Jamaica earlier this afternoon, according to the agency.
