Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm with sustained winds of 175 mph, is expected to make landfall in Jamaica within hours, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. At 8 a.m. EDT, Hurricane Melissa’s eye was located near 17.5°N, 78.1°W, moving north-northeast at 7 mph. The Category 5 storm is expected to make landfall in Jamaica within hours before crossing southeastern Cuba on Wednesday and the Bahamas later that day. Catastrophic hurricane-force winds and torrential rain of up to 30–40 inches in Jamaica and 25 inches in Cuba will cause life-threatening flooding and landslides. Hurricane conditions are also expected in eastern Cuba and the southeastern Bahamas, with tropical storm conditions reaching Haiti and the Turks and Caicos. They write:
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Hurricane Melissa Intermediate Advisory Number 28A NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL132025 800 AM EDT Tue Oct 28 2025…EYE OF EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CATEGORY 5 MELISSA APPROACHING
WESTERN JAMAICA…
…CATASTROPHIC WINDS, FLASH FLOODING, AND STORM SURGE EXPECTED ON
THE ISLAND TODAY…SUMMARY OF 800 AM EDT…1200 UTC…INFORMATION
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LOCATION…17.5N 78.1W ABOUT 55 MI…90 KM SSE OF NEGRIL JAMAICA ABOUT 265 MI…430 KM SW OF GUANTANAMO CUBA MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…175 MPH…280 KM/HPRESENT MOVEMENT…NNE OR 20 DEGREES AT 7 MPH…11 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…901 MB…26.61 INCHES
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
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CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:None.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for…
* Jamaica
* Cuban provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo, and Holguin
* Southeastern and Central BahamasA Hurricane Watch is in effect for…
* Turks and Caicos IslandsA Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for…
* Haiti
* Cuban province of Las Tunas
* Turks and Caicos IslandsA Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. Residents in Jamaica should remain in a safe shelter. In the warning area in Cuba and the Bahamas, preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.
A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area.
A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning.
Interests in Bermuda should monitor the progress of Melissa. Watches could be required later today or tonight.
For storm information specific to your area, please monitor products issued by your national meteorological service.
DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
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At 800 AM EDT (1200 UTC), the eye of Hurricane Melissa was located near latitude 17.5 North, longitude 78.1 West. Melissa is moving toward the north-northeast near 7 mph (11 km/h). A turn toward the northeast with an increase in forward speed is expected later today, followed by a faster northeastward motion on Wednesday and Thursday. On the forecast track, the core of Melissa is expected to make landfall on Jamaica during the next several hours, move across southeastern Cuba Wednesday morning, and move across the southeastern or central Bahamas later on Wednesday.Maximum sustained winds are near 175 mph (280 km/h) with higher gusts. Melissa is a category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Little change in strength is expected before Melissa makes landfall on Jamaica. Melissa is expected to reach Jamaica and southeastern Cuba as an extremely dangerous major hurricane, and it will still be at hurricane strength when it moves across the southeastern Bahamas.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles (45 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 195 miles (315 km). During the past few hours, Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, Jamaica, reported a sustained wind of 43 mph (69 km/h) and a gust of 59 mph (93 km/h). Also during the past few hours, Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica, reported a sustained wind of 38 mph (61 km/h) and a gust of 54 mph (87 km/h).
The estimated minimum central pressure is 901 mb (26.61 inches). An Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft is enroute to investigate Melissa.
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
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Key messages for Melissa can be found in the Tropical Cyclone Discussion under AWIPS header MIATCDAT3 and WMO header WTNT43 KNHC.WIND: Tropical storm conditions are occurring in Jamaica, and catastrophic hurricane-force winds are expected to begin during the next few hours. Within the eyewall, total structural failure is likely, especially in higher elevation areas where wind speeds atop and on the windward sides of hills and mountains could be up to 30 percent stronger.
Tropical storm conditions are expected to begin in eastern Cuba today, with hurricane conditions expected in the hurricane warning area starting tonight into Wednesday morning. Tropical storm conditions are expected in Haiti later today and Wednesday.
Hurricane conditions are expected in the southeastern and central Bahamas on Wednesday. Tropical storm conditions are expected and hurricane conditions are possible in the Turks and Caicos Islands on Wednesday.
RAINFALL: Melissa is expected to bring rainfall of 15 to 30 inches to portions of Jamaica and additional rainfall of 6 to 12 inches for southern Hispaniola through Wednesday, with storm total local maxima of 40 inches possible. Catastrophic flash flooding and numerous landslides are likely.
For eastern Cuba, storm total rainfall of 10 to 20 inches, with local amounts to 25 inches, is expected into Wednesday resulting in life-threatening and potentially catastrophic flash flooding with numerous landslides.
Over the Southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos, rain is expected to develop later today and continue into Wednesday. Total rainfall of 5 to 10 inches is expected to result in areas of flash flooding.
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