Hurricane Melissa Devastates Jamaica, Slams Cuba as Category 3; Bahamas Braces
The storm remains a Category 3 over Cuba, with tropical storm warnings issued for Haiti, Camaguey, and the Turks and Caicos. It will affect the southeastern Bahamas today, reach Bermuda on Thursday, weaken to a tropical storm, and pose no threat to the United States.
Hurricane Melissa, after pounding Jamaica as a record-breaking Category 5 storm, made landfall in eastern Cuba near Chivirico early on October 29, 2025, as a Category 3 with 120 mph winds. The National Hurricane Center reports the storm centered 10 miles south of Santiago de Cuba, moving northeast at 10 mph.
The storm first struck Jamaica on October 28 near New Hope in St. Elizabeth parish with 185 mph winds, marking it as the sixth-strongest Atlantic hurricane on record and the third-lowest pressure at 892 mb. St. Elizabeth was left underwater, with Black River hospital severely damaged and without power. More than 530,000 residents lost electricity, internet service collapsed, and roads and bridges were destroyed. Over 15,000 people sought shelter. Three deaths occurred in Jamaica during preparations and the storm, bringing the Caribbean total to seven, including three in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic. Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared a disaster, requested foreign aid, and warned of devastating impacts. SpaceX activated free Starlink service through November.
In Cuba, authorities evacuated 750,000 people ahead of the storm. President Miguel Diaz-Canel stated significant damage was expected.
The storm remains a Category 3 over Cuba, with tropical storm warnings issued for Haiti, Camaguey, and the Turks and Caicos. It will affect the southeastern Bahamas today, reach Bermuda on Thursday, weaken to a tropical storm, and pose no threat to the United States.
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