Hurricane Melissa
- Category 4
Hurricane Melissa is intensifying as it nears eastern Cuba, expected to make landfall as a major hurricane. As of 11:00 PM EDT, Melissa is located 110 miles southwest of Guantanamo, Cuba, with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph. The hurricane is moving northeast at 9 mph, with a minimum central pressure of 950 mb.
Warnings are in place, including a Hurricane Warning for parts of Cuba and the Bahamas, and a Tropical Storm Warning for Jamaica, Haiti, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Residents in affected areas should seek safe shelter immediately, with preparations in the Bahamas urged to be completed swiftly.
Melissa's impact is expected to bring severe weather conditions, including hurricane-force winds extending up to 30 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds up to 195 miles. Expected rainfall could lead to catastrophic flash flooding and landslides, particularly in mountainous regions of Jamaica and eastern Cuba. Storm surges and large waves pose additional threats along coastal areas.
Hurricane Melissa has emerged as one of the most formidable Atlantic hurricanes recorded in over a century. With its unprecedented intensity, this hurricane has captured global attention as it barrels across the ocean, posing serious threats to the regions in its path. Meteorologists are astounded by its power, noting that its wind speeds and pressure are comparable to some of the most devastating storms in recent history. As Melissa continues its trajectory, communities are urged to brace for possible severe weather impacts, including torrential rains and overwhelming storm surges.
The terrifying force of Hurricane Melissa has been vividly captured in numerous images and videos, illustrating the storm's immense power and scale. Dramatic footage reveals the swirling clouds and relentless winds that define the storm, leaving little doubt about the potential destruction it may leave in its wake. Further highlighting the storm's ferocity, the Hurricane Hunters' recent mission to gather data from within Melissa was cut short due to safety concerns. In the face of such a powerful natural phenomenon, emergency services and residents are on high alert, preparing for the worst while hoping for the best.
October 28, 2025, at 7:15 PM EDT
Major Hurricane Melissa is currently located near 18.8N 77.2W, about 40 nm ENE of Montego Bay, Jamaica, moving NNE at 7 kt. The hurricane has weakened slightly with maximum sustained winds of 110 kt. It is expected to turn northeast and move over eastern Cuba tonight and into the Bahamas, before approaching Bermuda later this week. Melissa is causing catastrophic flash flooding in Jamaica with significant rainfall also expected in Cuba and the Bahamas. A potential for storm surge remains high along the southeast coast of Cuba and the Bahamas, with destructive waves anticipated.
A strong cold front is entering the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, bringing fresh to strong winds and rough seas. Gale-force conditions are expected along the coast of Mexico. In the Caribbean Sea, aside from Hurricane Melissa, winds are generally moderate to fresh, with improving marine conditions expected as Melissa moves north of the area. In the Atlantic, a cold front from 31N74W to Stuart, Florida, is leading to moderate to fresh winds, and another high-pressure system is influencing trade winds elsewhere in the basin.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has forecasted an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season for 2025.
Named Storms: 13 to 19
Hurricanes: 6 to 10
Major Hurricanes (Category 3 or higher): 3 to 5
Accumulate Cyclone Energy (ACE): 95% to 180% of the median
This forecast indicates a 60% chance of an above-normal season, a 30% chance of a near-normal season, and a 10% chance of a below-normal season.
Hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30Key: Active Past Future
*Press/click the storm name to view additional details2020 - 30 named storms, 14 hurricanes
Hurricane Katrina (2005) - $125 billion
Harvey (2017) - $125 billion
Hurricane Patricia (2015) - 215 mph (345 km/h)
Hurricane Allen (1980) - 190 mph (305 km/h)
The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a 1 to 5 rating system that classifies hurricanes based on their sustained wind speeds and the potential damage they can cause. It helps communicate the intensity of hurricanes and the likely impacts on structures and environments. The scale does not account for factors like storm surge or rainfall, focusing only on wind speeds.
Watching the Tropics was originally built as a personal storm tracker with only the most important charts for the Atlantic hurricane basin. Numerous sites are available for tracking hurricanes, but Watching the Tropics minimizes extra "noise" and shows only what you need.
Designed in Florida by
"Watching the tropics" refers to monitoring tropical weather systems, such as tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes, in regions close to the equator. Meteorologists and weather enthusiasts often use this phrase during hurricane season to indicate that they're keeping an eye on developing weather systems that could potentially strengthen and impact areas like the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and Atlantic Ocean.
Websites, news outlets, or weather services also use "Tropics Watch" to keep the public informed about the latest developments in the tropics, especially during peak hurricane season.
An "invest" refers to an area of disturbed weather that meteorologists are investigating for potential tropical development. The term "invest" is short for "investigation area."
When an area is designated as an invest, it is given a number (between 90 and 99) followed by the letter "L" for systems in the North Atlantic or "E" for systems in the Eastern Pacific. For example, "Invest 91L" would refer to the 91st area of interest in the Atlantic basin for that season.
The designation of an invest allows meteorologists to focus their resources on a specific area, utilize specialized forecasting models, and issue updates as needed.
A tropical depression is a type of tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of less than 39 mph (34 knots or 63 km/h).
Key characteristics:
It's the first stage of development in the tropical cyclone classification used by the National Hurricane Center, followed by tropical storm and then hurricane.
