Hurricane Melissa Jamaica Update: Path, Damage Reports, Death Toll & Cuba Impact

Hurricane Melissa, one of the strongest storms in Caribbean history, made landfall in Jamaica with catastrophic winds and flooding, leaving communities in crisis. This report explores the storm’s path, destruction in Jamaica, and its growing impact on Cuba and nearby regions.

What Is Hurricane Melissa? Latest Weather Updates and Storm Path

Hurricane Melissa Category Level and Wind Speeds

Hurricane Melissa intensified rapidly in late October 2025, emerging from a tropical wave in the central Caribbean. It reached Category 5 status—the highest on the Saffir-Simpson scale—before making landfall in Jamaica with sustained winds of 185 mph (≈295 km/h).
 
Upon landfall, its core pressure was measured at around 892 millibars, tying it with the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record.  Meteorologists noted one key factor: the storm’s rapid intensification, enabled by unusually warm sea surface temperatures and very favorable atmospheric conditions. Because of the severity, the storm posed “life-threatening” hazards—including catastrophic winds, storm surge, and flooding.

Is Hurricane Melissa Going to Hit the US? Forecast & Path Projections

After rampaging across Jamaica, Melissa moved toward eastern Cuba, then the Bahamas, and potentially toward Bermuda and the US East Coast. Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center (NHC) say while the centre of Melissa may not make a direct US landfall, moisture and outer bands could affect the US east coast with wind, rain, and surf—especially in the Mid-Atlantic and New England. The predicted track showed Melissa crossing Jamaica’s southwest, then emerging into the Caribbean Sea, re-intensifying near Cuba, and pushing northeast toward the Bahamas. The path means multiple regions are under threat, making it one of the more complex and dangerous storms of the 2025 season.

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Jamaica Hurricane Melissa Damage – Live Situation on the Ground

Montego Bay Airport and Infrastructure Damage

In Jamaica, damage is already widespread. According to local officials, neighborhoods near the town of Black River and parishes such as St. Elizabeth were among the hardest hit. Homes have been flattened, trees uprooted, power lines down, and vehicles overturned.The popular tourist destination of Montego Bay also suffered heavy losses. Footage shows damaged roofs, shattered glass, flooded terminals, and closed runways.

Hospitals and essential infrastructure were not spared. One hospital in Black River reported roof damage and evacuation of patients. Roads remain blocked by debris and flooding, hampering search and rescue efforts.

Widespread Destruction and Flooding Across Jamaica

Officials report that half a million or more people may be affected across Jamaica. Large areas are “underwater,” especially in low-lying parishes. In some mountainous regions, rainfall totals were expected to reach 30 to 40 inches (75-100 cm), triggering severe flash floods and landslides.
Power outages are massive: the Jamaican energy utility reported hundreds of thousands of customers without electricity. Communication networks are disrupted, and many communities remain isolated. The government, led by Prime Minister Andrew Holness, declared Jamaica a disaster area, signalling the scale of the emergency.

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Aftermath and Recovery in Jamaica

Power Outages, Flooding, and Community Impact

In the storm’s wake, Jamaica faces a massive humanitarian and recovery challenge. With power grids down and telephone networks offline in large areas, residents are cut off from vital information and support.
Floodwaters continue to rise in some parishes; muddy roads and debris hamper relief access. Authorities warn of continued flash flooding and landslides, especially in mountainous zones such as the Blue Mountains.
The economic toll is already being felt. Homes have collapsed, commercial properties are damaged, and tourism – a major sector for Jamaica – is facing immediate disruption.

Evacuations, Rescue Operations, and Relief Efforts

Emergency shelters were activated prior to landfall, with hundreds of sites opened across the island. However, many residents chose to shelter at home instead of evacuating, citing fears of theft or safety in shelters.
Therefore, search and rescue teams now face the challenge of locating people in remote areas cut off by flooding or landslides. International aid agencies are also mobilising. The Jamaican government and disaster agencies launched a relief website to coordinate donations, track blocked roads, and map shelters.

Hurricane Melissa Hits Cuba – Latest Impact

Damage Reports from Cuba and Government Response

After rampaging through Jamaica, Hurricane Melissa made landfall in eastern Cuba early on October 29 as a Category 3 storm (with 115 mph winds) following its peak in Jamaica.
Cuba’s President Miguel Díaz‑Canel stated that the island faced “significant” damage and urged residents to remain sheltered. The government had earlier evacuated more than 735,000 people ahead of the storm.
Photo and video reports from eastern provinces like Santiago de Cuba show roofs torn off, water spanning streets, and trees uprooted. Roads are blocked, and flooding is extensive.

Storm Path Shift After Leaving Jamaica

Melissa’s path, after Jamaica, tracks northeast across Cuba, then into the Bahamas, and possibly toward Bermuda. Although weakened, the storm remains dangerous. Even as it moves away from Jamaica, the lingering bands of rain and tropical moisture continue to pose risks of flooding and landslides in both Cuba and Haiti/­Dominican Republic.

Hurricane Melissa Forecast – Will It Impact the US or Bahamas?

National Hurricane Center Latest Path Tracker

The NHC emphasises that Melissa remains an “extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation” as of its latest update.
Forecast models show the storm moving toward the Bahamas, with potential to impact Bermuda next. Moisture is also expected to feed into weather systems over the US East Coast—even if the core does not make landfall there.

Threat Levels for Bahamas, Bermuda, and US East Coast

In the Bahamas, storm surge of 5 to 8 feet (≈1.5-2.5 m) above dry ground is expected. Rainfall of 5-10 inches (≈12-25 cm) may occur in southeastern islands.
Bermuda may experience the remnants of Melissa by late October, though likely weaker. For the US East Coast (Mid-Atlantic and New England), the threat is more indirect: high surf, outer bands, heavy rainfall and gusty winds rather than full hurricane force.

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What Happens Next? Rebuilding and Future Weather Predictions

Economic and Social Impact on the Caribbean

The Caribbean economies—including Jamaica and Cuba—face major rebuilding tasks. Tourism, agriculture, infrastructure, and housing have all taken a severe hit. Experts estimate that the cost of damage may run into the hundreds of millions of dollars, though full figures are still being compiled.
Communities displaced by flooding and landslides will require long-term assistance. Rehabilitation of roads, power lines, hospitals and schools may stretch months or even years.

Experts Warn of Increasing Storm Intensity Due to Climate Change

Meteorologists and climate scientists say Hurricane Melissa is a stark example of how warmer ocean temperatures, slower storm movement, and favourable atmospheric conditions can lead to super-charged hurricanes.
The slow movement of Melissa over warm waters meant a prolonged period of extreme weather for Jamaica—leading to more rain, more flooding, and more destruction. Some fear that such slow-moving, high-intensity storms may become more frequent.

FAQs About Hurricane Melissa Jamaica

1. What caused Hurricane Melissa to become so strong?
Melissa strengthened rapidly due to unusually warm Caribbean waters, weak steering currents, and low wind shear, reaching Category 5 before landfall.

2. How many people were affected by the Jamaica hurricane?
Hundreds of thousands were impacted, with over 530,000 losing power and many displaced or cut off from communication.

3. Which areas were hit the hardest by Hurricane Melissa?
Southwestern Jamaica—St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, parts of Manchester and Clarendon—suffered the most. Eastern Cuba also saw significant damage.

4. Is Hurricane Melissa expected to strengthen or weaken next?
Melissa is weakening over cooler waters and land but remains dangerous, with risks of heavy rain and high surf; minor re-intensification over the sea is possible.

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Manoj Ghimire

Manoj Ghimire is a skillful content writer with more than two years of experience in this field, who can cover the celebrity news and lifestyle.
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