Hurricane Melissa: What to Know Now
Moving north: Hurricane Melissa is an “extremely dangerous” Category 3 storm as it nears eastern Cuba, after a historic Jamaica landfall among the strongest on record in the Atlantic.
Impact so far: Extensive damage is reported to homes, hospitals, and schools in southwestern Jamaica. Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared the nation a disaster area on Tuesday.
Deaths: At least 7 fatalities are linked to the storm—3 in Jamaica during preparations, 3 in Haiti, and 1 in the Dominican Republic.
Current Status & Track
Intensity: Melissa briefly restrengthened to Category 4 (130 mph) over very warm Caribbean waters before settling back to Category 3 (125 mph) as of 2 a.m. ET—still “extremely dangerous,” per the National Hurricane Center.
Track: The core is expected to make landfall in southeastern Cuba early Wednesday, then move across the central or southeastern Bahamas later Wednesday.
Country-by-Country Impacts
Cuba
Evacuations: More than 735,000 people evacuated, according to President Miguel Díaz-Canel, who warned of a “very difficult night” but pledged recovery efforts.
Rain & Flooding: Up to 25 inches of rain possible in the eastern mountains, with life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides.
Wind & Surge: Sustained winds up to 120 mph near the core; storm surge up to 12 feet along exposed coasts.
Jamaica
Shelters: Nearly 15,000 people sheltered nationwide Tuesday, including at a police station in Black River (St. Elizabeth) amid reports of widespread damage.
Emergency Measures: Jamaica declared a disaster area, including anti–price-gouging enforcement as food, water, and essentials run short. An official relief website is live to coordinate aid and recovery.
Infrastructure: Hospitals, housing, and commercial properties sustained damage. Authorities expect to begin recovery on the island’s east, with power and telecom restoration targeted by Wednesday in some areas; southern Jamaica may take additional days.
Outages & Connectivity: 500,000+ customers lost power Tuesday, with western Jamaica ≈77% of affected accounts. Internet connectivity dropped to ~30% of normal by late Tuesday (NetBlocks).
Tourism: About 25,000 tourists remain in country as cleanup begins.
Haiti & the Dominican Republic
Fatalities: Three deaths in Haiti, one in the Dominican Republic linked to storm impacts and preparations.
International Support
The United States signaled readiness to assist Jamaica’s recovery efforts. From Air Force One, President Donald Trump said the U.S. is “prepared to move” and is closely monitoring the damage.
Key Hazards to Watch
Rainfall flooding & mudslides in mountainous terrain (Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola).
Destructive winds near the core and embedded tornado-like vortices in outer bands.
Dangerous storm surge along onshore-facing coasts.
Extended power/telecom outages hampering emergency response.
What Residents Should Do
Follow local emergency orders and evacuation guidance.
Avoid floodwaters; do not drive across submerged roads.
Prepare for prolonged outages (water, power, communications).
Use official channels for relief info and price-gouging reports.
