Related videos:
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has confirmed in its 5:00 a.m. bulletin this Monday, October 27, that Hurricane Melissa has reached Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h).
This figure positions Melissa as one of the most dangerous storms of the season, and its path is directed straight toward the southeast of Cuba, where hurricane warnings have already been issued.
Currently, the center of the hurricane is located at coordinates 16.4°N, 77.8°W, about 315 miles (505 km) south-southwest of Guantánamo, slowly moving west at 6 km/h.
A gradual turn to the northwest and north is expected in the coming hours, followed by an acceleration toward the northeast starting Tuesday.
According to the NHC forecast, "the core of Melissa is expected to move near or over Jamaica tonight and Tuesday, over southeast Cuba Tuesday night, and through the southeast Bahamas on Wednesday."
Cuban provinces under warning
The situation has forced hurricane warnings to be issued for the provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, and Holguín.
Additionally, the province of Las Tunas is under a tropical storm warning.
A hurricane warning means that "hurricane conditions are expected within the warning area, typically issued 36 hours before possible impact," so authorities urge residents to complete emergency preparations immediately.
Destructive winds and further intensification
The data collected by a U.S. Air Force hurricane hunter aircraft confirms that Melissa is not only a category 5 storm but may also strengthen further.
The NHC warns that "an additional strengthening is forecast today, with fluctuations in intensity possible before Melissa makes landfall in Jamaica."
Hurricane-force winds extend up to 45 km from the center, while tropical storm-force winds reach up to 315 km.
These conditions cause the effects to be felt long before the eye of the cyclone arrives.
Flooding and landslides
Beyond the wind, rain represents one of Melissa's greatest dangers.
The NHC estimates that between 10 and 15 inches of rain will fall in eastern Cuba, with local accumulations of up to 20 inches (more than 500 mm) between today and Wednesday.
These rains can cause "potentially deadly flash floods and numerous landslides," especially in mountainous or hard-to-access areas in the Sierra Maestra and its surroundings.
Destructive cyclonic surges
The bulletin also warns of "potentially deadly" storm surges that could hit the southeastern coast of Cuba between Tuesday night and Wednesday.
Water levels are expected to exceed between 6 and 9 feet (up to nearly 3 meters) above the usual level, accompanied by "large and destructive waves."
This phenomenon, which has already begun to impact Jamaica, poses a serious threat to coastal communities in Cuba, where the combination of storm surge, rain, and wind can have catastrophic consequences.
Alert in the Western Caribbean
In addition to Cuba, Hurricane Melissa has put several countries in the Caribbean under watch.
Jamaica is under a hurricane warning, as are parts of the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Haiti is also under a tropical storm warning.
The NHC insists that “interests in Bermuda should keep track of Melissa’s progress,” noting the possibility that the system may indirectly affect the archipelago later in the week.
Melissa has become the second Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic in 2025, and its development is testing early warning systems and community preparedness in the region.
The central pressure of the system is 917 mb, a figure that indicates its powerful intensity.
The Cuban authorities, along with the Meteorological Institute and Civil Defense, have begun mobilizing resources, issuing guidelines, and preparing shelters in the eastern provinces.
Melissa is now a meteorological monster, and its path directly threatens eastern Cuba. The next 48 hours will be crucial to mitigate its impacts.
Filed under: