Hurricane Melissa Tracker Live: Historic Category 5 Landfall in Jamaica, Now Aiming for Cuba and the Bahamas

Wednesday, October 29 (local time varies) — Hurricane Melissa roared ashore in western Jamaica on Tuesday, October 28 as a Category 5 with peak 185 mph winds, then drifted off the north coast overnight while weakening slightly but remaining an extremely dangerous major hurricane. With a broad wind field and very slow motion, Melissa is unleashing catastrophic wind damage, storm surge, and flooding. The next targets along the track are southeastern Cuba and parts of the Bahamas, before a faster northeast turn over the open Atlantic late week.

Live status: position, strength, motion

• Classification: Major hurricane (weakening from Cat 5 but still intense)

• Recent position: North of Jamaica after a Category 5 landfall near New Hope (south of Montego Bay)

• Maximum sustained winds: 165–175 mph range early today, gusts higher near the eyewall

• Movement: NNE ~5–10 mph (still slow enough to prolong impacts)

• Central pressure: Extremely low (sub-910 mb at peak; slowly rising)

• Wind field: Hurricane-force winds extend tens of miles from the center; tropical-storm conditions extend much farther

Why this matters now: Slow forward speed plus mountainous terrain equals multi-day flooding and landslide risk in Jamaica even as winds gradually ease.

Jamaica impacts at a glance

• Wind: Widespread structural damage near and west of the landfall zone; extensive treefall and power infrastructure impacts across multiple parishes.

• Storm surge: Destructive coastal inundation along south- and west-facing shores, with battering waves and beach erosion.

• Rainfall: 15–30+ inches common, localized 40 inches in high terrain; life-threatening flash floods and mudslides continue after the core departs.

• Power/communications: Large-scale outages; restoration will take time where access is blocked by debris and high water.

Residents should remain sheltered until local officials confirm hazards have passed; post-eye backside winds can still down weakened structures and trees.

Track forecast: Cuba and Bahamas next

• Southeastern Cuba (tonight into Thursday): The center tracks NNE toward Guantánamo–Santiago de Cuba–Granma provinces. Expect hurricane-force gusts, dangerous coastal surge on exposed shores, and 8–20+ inches of rain with landslide potential.

• Bahamas/Turks & Caicos (Thursday into Friday): Core track likely near parts of the central and northwest Bahamas. Even with gradual weakening from land interaction and increasing shear, Melissa’s large circulation will drive hurricane-force gusts in the corridor, 4–6 ft surge in prone areas, and 5–10+ inches of rain.

• Late week: A mid-latitude trough accelerates Melissa northeast over the open Atlantic. Bermuda should monitor for strong winds, heavy rain, and large, long-period swells depending on the exact distance of closest approach.

Timing snapshot (subject to change)

Schedules can shift with wobble/forward speed changes; follow local alerts.

Why Hurricane Melissa is so destructive

1. Historic intensity at landfall: A Category 5 strike delivers extreme wind damage and compound coastal hazards.

2. Size and structure: A broad wind field spreads destructive gusts and surge far from the eye.

3. Slow movement: Prolonged onshore flow and training rainbands extend flood and surge impacts for many hours or days.

4. Terrain effects: Jamaica’s mountains wring out moisture, amplifying flash-flood and landslide risk well beyond the core wind zone.

Safety checklist (immediate actions)

• Avoid floodwaters: Never drive through submerged roads; depth and currents are deceptive.

• Shelter smart: Stay in an interior room on a low level above known flood zones; do not venture out during lulls or eye passages.

• Coastal zones: If ordered to evacuate, move before the next high tide cycle; avoid all seawalls and piers.

• Power & comms: Treat downed lines as live. Conserve phone battery; use texts for status checks.

• After the storm: Beware contaminated water, unstable trees/roofs, and hidden debris. Heed boil-water and curfew notices.

What to watch over the next 24–48 hours

• Eyewall replacement and shear: Structural changes may slowly lower peak winds but do not quickly reduce surge and flood threats.

• Angle into Cuba: A subtle left/right shift will change which provinces see the strongest winds and surge.

• Bahamas corridor: Preparedness should be completed before tropical-storm conditions arrive; ferry/flight operations may suspend as seas build.

• Marine impact: Expanding swell field across the Caribbean passages and southwest Atlantic; dangerous surf and rip currents well away from the core.

This is a rapidly evolving situation. Stay on trusted official alerts for evacuation orders, curfews, shelter locations, and updated track/intensity guidance as Hurricane Melissa moves from Jamaica toward Cuba and the Bahamas.