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Hurricane Melissa reached Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, with maximum sustained winds of 220 kilometers per hour (140 mph), according to the latest report from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) of the United States issued at 5:00 a.m. (Cuba time) on this Sunday, October 26.
The organization based in Miami reported that the center of the cyclone was located at a latitude of 16.3 North and longitude 76.3 West, about 195 kilometers southeast of Kingston (Jamaica) and approximately 450 kilometers southwest of Guantánamo, Cuba. Melissa is slowly moving west at about 7 km/h, but a turn to the north and northeast is expected between Monday and Tuesday.
In its projected path, the center of the hurricane could hit Jamaica between Monday and Tuesday, and subsequently the eastern part of Cuba between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, maintaining great intensity.
Maximum alert in eastern Cuba
The NHC issued a hurricane watch for the Cuban provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, and Holguín, where torrential rains, flooding, and landslides are expected starting Tuesday.
Forecasts indicate accumulations of 150 to 300 millimeters of rain (6 to 12 inches), with maxima of up to 450 millimeters (18 inches) in mountainous areas of eastern Cuba. The NHC warned that flash floods and potentially catastrophic landslides could occur.
Additionally, a significant storm surge is expected on the southern coasts of Jamaica, with levels between 9 and 13 feet (3 to 4 meters) above sea level, while southeastern Cuba could experience a hazardous rise in wave action and seawater penetration starting Tuesday night.
Jamaica and Haiti, also under threat
A hurricane warning is in effect for all of Jamaica, and a hurricane watch remains active for the southwest of Haiti, from the border with the Dominican Republic to Port-au-Prince. Both nations are expected to receive rainfall between 15 and 30 inches (380 to 760 millimeters), with peaks that could reach 1,000 millimeters (40 inches), resulting in catastrophic flooding and landslides.
Blackouts and misinformation exacerbate the emergency in Cuba
While the eastern part of the country prepares for the impact of Melissa, internal conditions are worsening the emergency. The most vulnerable provinces — Granma, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantánamo — are facing blackouts of over 18 hours daily, making communication, access to information, and preparation for the imminent danger more difficult.
The NHC reiterated that hurricane conditions could be felt in eastern Cuba starting Tuesday afternoon and warned that preparations to protect life and property must be completed immediately.
It is recommended that the population of the eastern provinces remain alert to updates from the Instituto de Meteorología de Cuba and the Centro Nacional de Huracanes, as well as follow the instructions from Civil Defense.
Source: National Hurricane Center (NHC), bulletin 20 — 5:00 a.m. EDT, October 26, 2025.
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