Hurricane Melissa 2025: live tracker, path, and impacts after Jamaica’s historic Category 5 landfall

Hurricane Melissa 2025 is a rapidly evolving, life-threatening storm. After a catastrophic Category 5 strike in Jamaica on Tuesday with estimated sustained winds near 185 mph, the hurricane crossed eastern Cuba early Wednesday with major-hurricane hazards and is now expected to re-emerge over very warm waters. Intensity changes are possible as the core reorganizes; local alerts and figures may update through the day.

Hurricane Melissa 2025: current status at a glance

• Storm type: Major hurricane with fluctuations during and after Cuban land interaction

• Recent position/motion: Moving north to northeast across or just off eastern Cuba, then into the Bahamas

• Core hazards: Destructive winds, 10–20+ inches of rainfall in swaths (higher over mountains), flash flooding and mudslides, and dangerous storm surge on onshore-facing coasts

• Wind field: Hurricane conditions near the core; tropical-storm-force winds extending well outward, creating long-duration impacts far from the center

• Marine risks: Very rough seas and large swells spreading through the Caribbean passages into the western Atlantic, producing life-threatening rip currents

Recent updates indicate Melissa’s intensity is cycling as the eyewall interacts with terrain and then open ocean. Treat ranges for wind and rain as dynamic.

Track forecast: Cuba to the Bahamas, then turning over the western Atlantic

• Wednesday (today): Bands continue across Santiago de Cuba–Granma–Guantánamo, with hurricane-force gusts and extreme rainfall. River rises and landslides are a significant threat where soils are saturated.

• Tonight–Thursday: The center moves back over water, allowing re-intensification potential. A track through or near parts of the central and northern Bahamas could bring hurricane conditions, storm surge, and severe freshwater flooding.

• Friday–Weekend: The most likely scenario lifts Melissa north/northeast over the western Atlantic. Bermuda should monitor for close approach or peripheral impacts. Along the U.S. East Coast and Atlantic Canada, the primary hazards look to be high surf, coastal erosion, and rip currents, with exact outcomes dependent on the storm’s distance from shore.

Watches and warnings (snapshot)

• Eastern Cuba: Hurricane warnings; catastrophic rainfall and damaging winds ongoing or imminent.

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

• Marine interests: Small craft and larger vessels should remain in port across exposed Caribbean and southwest Atlantic waters.

Jamaica’s unprecedented hit—and what it signals next

Hurricane Melissa’s Category 5 landfall in southwestern Jamaica marked one of the strongest Atlantic landfalls on record for the island, with widespread power outages, roof damage, downed trees, blocked roads, and severe flooding. The event underscores Melissa’s capacity for rapid intensification over exceptionally warm waters. Even if peak winds do not return to earlier extremes, the storm’s rainfall footprint and surge potential remain exceptionally dangerous along its forward path.

Potential impacts to prepare for

• Wind damage: Structural failures are likely nearest the core; prolonged tropical-storm-force winds can compound damage and impede recovery.

• Rain and inland flooding: Expect double-digit rainfall totals where training bands set up, especially over mountainous terrain. Flash flooding and mudslides may persist long after peak winds ease.

• Storm surge: Life-threatening coastal inundation possible on windward coasts of eastern Cuba and parts of the Bahamas; localized surge issues may arise elsewhere depending on track and tides.

• Power and communications: Multi-day outages are likely in hardest-hit zones; access for repairs may be delayed by floodwaters and debris.

Timeline and key locations (subject to change)

Safety guidance if you are in Hurricane Melissa’s path

• Flood awareness first: Know your high-ground route; never drive through water.

• Shelter and supplies: Prepare for 72+ hours without utilities—water (1 gallon per person per day), shelf-stable food, medications, first aid, flashlights, batteries, and power banks.

• Home prep: Secure outdoor items, reinforce weak openings, close interior doors, and identify a safe interior room away from windows.

• After the eye: If winds drop suddenly, stay sheltered—the back side of the hurricane can return quickly with dangerous gusts.

• Communications plan: Share your location and check-in times with family; keep devices charged and consider a battery-powered radio.

What to watch next on the Hurricane Melissa 2025 tracker

• Intensity swings as the center clears Cuba and passes near or through the Bahamas.

• Track wiggles that could bring the inner eyewall closer to populated islands.

• Rainfall totals and river gauges signaling escalating flood potential.

• Marine alerts for broader Atlantic waters as swells build and spread.

This is a developing situation. Key details—especially exact wind speeds, track, and local alert boundaries—may evolve through the day. Follow instructions from local emergency managers and the latest official hurricane advisories for location-specific guidance.