Hurricane Melissa tracker live: path, timing, and impacts as the storm crosses Cuba after Jamaica’s historic hit

Hurricane Melissa continued its destructive run across the Caribbean on Wednesday, moving over eastern Cuba after slamming Jamaica with historic force a day earlier. The storm’s core brought life-threatening winds, torrential rain, and dangerous storm surge, with hundreds of thousands of people displaced across the region. Conditions will evolve rapidly as Melissa re-emerges over warm water; use the live details below to stay aligned with the latest official advisories. Recent updates indicate key figures may fluctuate as the hurricane cycles in intensity.

Hurricane Melissa live tracker: current status and motion

• Storm type: Major hurricane (intensity fluctuating after Cuban landfall)

• Location: Crossing eastern Cuba, generally moving north-northeast

• Peak winds (recent): Up to 185 mph at Jamaica landfall; now lower but still dangerous over Cuba

• Primary hazards right now: Extreme wind gusts, 10–20+ inches of rainfall in swaths, life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides, and storm surge along exposed coasts

• Evacuations/shelters: Large-scale evacuations reported in eastern Cuba; significant sheltering underway across impacted Jamaican parishes

Note: Intensity will likely shift as Melissa interacts with land, then re-strengthens over open water. Treat all wind and rainfall ranges as dynamic.

Track forecast: Cuba today, Bahamas next, then a turn over the western Atlantic

• Wednesday (today): Core bands traverse Santiago de Cuba–Granma–Guantánamo region, with hurricane-force gusts and serious inland flooding, especially in mountainous terrain. Mudslide risk is high where soils are saturated.

• Tonight–Thursday: Melissa is expected to move off Cuba and over very warm waters, allowing some re-intensification. Trajectory brings the storm through or near the Bahamas, with the potential for hurricane-force conditions over parts of the central and northern islands.

• Friday–Weekend: The most likely path lifts north/northeast into the western Atlantic, with large swells radiating far from the center, potentially affecting Bermuda and later coasts farther north with high surf and rip currents. Exact proximity to land beyond the Bahamas remains uncertain and will depend on the storm’s forward speed and any trough interaction.

Watches and warnings (at a glance)

• Eastern Cuba: Hurricane warnings in effect; catastrophic rainfall and wind impacts ongoing.

• Bahamas & Turks and Caicos: A combination of hurricane and tropical storm alerts expected to expand or shift through Thursday as the track clarifies.

• Marine hazards: Dangerous seas extend hundreds of miles from the center; maritime operations should remain in port across the central and western Caribbean passages and the southwest Atlantic corridors.

What just happened in Jamaica — and why that matters for the next phase

Hurricane Melissa blasted southwestern Jamaica on Tuesday with Category 5 winds at landfall, among the most powerful Caribbean strikes on record. The island’s southwest parishes endured widespread power loss, roof failures, severe flooding, and blocked roads from landslides and debris. This “storm of the century” level hit underscores Melissa’s capacity for rapid intensification, a behavior the system could repeat once it clears Cuba and taps into open-ocean heat content again. Even if peak winds do not return to prior extremes, the storm’s rainfall footprint and surge remain dangerous across its forward path.

Impacts to prepare for next

• Wind: Structural damage likely where the core passes, with prolonged periods of tropical-storm-force winds extending well away from the eye.

• Rain & flooding: Totals of 10–20 inches in worst-hit zones, locally higher in orographic lift areas. Flash flooding will be the driver of life-threatening conditions long after peak winds ease.

• Storm surge: Significant coastal inundation possible on onshore-facing coasts of eastern Cuba and, later, portions of the Bahamas archipelago.

• Surf & rip currents: Large, dangerous swells will spread into the Greater Antilles, Bahamas, and western Atlantic beaches. Coastal erosion is likely.

Timeline snapshot (subject to change)

Safety essentials if you are in the path of Hurricane Melissa

• Flood first: If you’re in a flood-prone area, identify your high-ground route now. Never drive through water.

• Power & comms: Fully charge devices and prepare for multi-day outages. Keep a battery-powered radio and spare power banks.

• Shelter-in-place kit: Three days of water (1 gallon per person per day), shelf-stable food, first aid, medications, flashlights, and cash.

• Secure your home: Tie down or bring inside loose outdoor items; close interior doors; know the safest interior room away from windows.

• After the eye: Do not venture out if winds calm suddenly—the back side of the hurricane can strike with little warning.

What to watch next on the Hurricane Melissa tracker

• Intensity swings as the core moves off Cuba and passes near or over the Bahamas.

• Any wobble that brings the inner eyewall closer to populated islands.

• Rainfall totals and river gauges signaling escalating flood potential.

• New alerts for Bermuda and marine interests as the storm enters the open Atlantic.

This is a developing situation. Key details—especially wind speeds, exact track, and local alert boundaries—may evolve through the day. Stay aligned with your local emergency management updates and official hurricane advisories for the latest instructions specific to your area.