Hurricane Melissa live updates: No official death toll in Jamaica

Hurricane Melissa tore a path of destruction across Jamaica.

Last Updated: October 30, 2025, 10:54 PM EDT

Hurricane Melissa tore a path of destruction across Jamaica after the storm made landfall on Tuesday as a Category 5 hurricane, one of the most powerful landfalls on record in the Atlantic basin.

After lashing Jamaica with dangerous winds and flooding rain, Melissa made a second landfall in Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane on Wednesday morning. Melissa then moved through the Bahamas, and next, on Thursday night, the storm will pass Bermuda as a Category 1 or 2 hurricane.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
Oct 27, 2025, 3:56 PM EDT

Latest forecast

Catastrophic and life-threatening hurricane-force winds will begin in Jamaica on Monday night, and then Melissa is expected to make landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday morning.

Tracking Hurricane Melissa in the Atlantic Basin.
ABC News

Rain totals in Jamaica could reach 15 to 30 inches and even up to 40 inches in localized areas. This will spark catastrophic and life-threatening flash flooding.

Tracking Hurricane through midweek.
ABC News

Storm surge will decimate parts of Jamaica’s southern coast with water surging up to 13 feet above ground level.

Jamaicans should be prepared for extensive infrastructure damage and long-lasting power outages.

By Tuesday night, Melissa will move away from Jamaica and toward eastern Cuba. Eastern Cuba could see 15 to 20 inches of rain, triggering dangerous flash flooding and landslides.

On Wednesday afternoon, Melissa will approach the southeast Bahamas, where 4 to 8 inches of rainfall is forecast.

Tracking Hurricane Melissa latest alerts.
ABC News

-ABC News’ Melissa Griffin

Oct 27, 2025, 2:53 PM EDT

Jamaican prime minister urges residents to obey evacuation orders

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness said he’s signed an evacuation order for some areas on the island’s southern coast.

“We can lessen damage and speed up recovery by taking preparatory and precautionary measures before the impact of the hurricane,” Holmes said in a statement.

People watch waves crash, as Hurricane Melissa approaches, in the Harbour View neighborhood of Kingston, Jamaica, October 27, 2025.
Octavio Jones/Reuters

-ABC News’ Will Gretsky

Oct 27, 2025, 1:59 PM EDT

Jamaica braces for life-threatening hurricane-force winds

Melissa, a Category 5 hurricane, has strengthened even further and is now packing winds up to 175 mph.

Catastrophic and life-threatening hurricane-force wind conditions are expected to begin in Jamaica Monday night and continue into early Tuesday.

Douglas Butler, a retired fisherman, fills up a barrel of water for his household as Hurricane Melissa approaches, in Port Royal, Jamaica, October 27, 2025.
Octavio Jones/Reuters

People should be prepared for buildings to fall apart, especially in higher elevation areas where wind speeds could be up to 30% stronger.

Oct 27, 2025, 1:11 PM EDT

1,000 nonessential personnel evacuated from Guantanamo ahead of storm

The Navy this weekend moved 1,000 nonessential personnel, family members, residents and pets from Naval Station Guantanamo Bay ahead of Hurricane Melissa.

Service members carry a crated family pet for transport to a temporary animal control holding facility onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola as non-mission essential personnel are evacuated from the Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Oct. 25, 2025.
Jon Jezreel Japay Andres/Naval Air Station Pensacola

Service members carry a crated family pet for transport to a temporary animal control holding facility onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola as non-mission essential personnel are evacuated from the Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Oct. 25, 2025.
Garrett Dipuma/Naval Air Station Pensacola

“We're monitoring the storm's progress very closely and taking all necessary steps to ensure the safety of our personnel and the readiness of our bases," Navy Region Southeast commander Rear Adm. John Hewitt said in a statement.

-ABC News’ Luis Martinez

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