**Hurricane Melissa Regains Strength, Targets Cuba After Hitting Jamaica**
*Oct. 28 (UPI)* — Hurricane Melissa was regaining strength Tuesday night as it took aim at Cuba after battering Jamaica throughout the day, forecasters said.
The eye of Melissa was located about 110 miles southwest of Guantanamo, Cuba, and 300 miles south of the central Bahamas, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in its 11 p.m. EDT update. The storm was moving northeast at 9 mph.
Melissa had maximum sustained winds of 130 mph, classifying it as a Category 4 hurricane. This marked a decrease from the Category 5 strength it had when it struck Jamaica. The storm weakened while crossing Jamaica’s western mountains but appeared to be strengthening again, forecasters noted.
Melissa made landfall on Jamaica as a powerful major hurricane, marking the strongest direct hit on the island since Atlantic basin record-keeping began. It was also the first storm to make landfall in the Caribbean this season.
The hurricane is expected to make a second landfall along Cuba’s southeastern coast soon, maintaining its major hurricane strength. It also is projected to remain a hurricane when it reaches the Bahamas. Bermuda could potentially be threatened as well.
“Melissa is expected to continue to strengthen until it reaches Cuba in a few hours, and it is expected to make landfall there as a very dangerous major hurricane,” NHC forecaster John Cangialosi said in a late Tuesday discussion. “Melissa is still expected to be a powerful hurricane when it moves through the Bahamas and near Bermuda.”
### Warnings and Expected Impacts
A hurricane warning was in effect for the Cuban provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo, and Holguin, as well as southeastern and central Bahamas. A hurricane watch was issued for Bermuda. Tropical storm warnings extended to Jamaica, Haiti, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the Cuban province of Las Tunas.
Hurricane-force winds extended up to 30 miles from the storm’s center, while tropical-storm-force winds reached out as far as 195 miles.
Significant rainfall and flooding were forecast across several regions:
– Portions of Jamaica were expected to see 15 to 30 inches of rain through Wednesday, with localized totals up to 40 inches.
– Southern Hispaniola, including Haiti and the Dominican Republic, was forecast to receive 6 to 12 inches of rain.
– Cuba could receive 10 to 20 inches of rainfall, with local amounts reaching 25 inches.
– Southeastern Bahamas was expected to get 5 to 10 inches of rain.
The NHC warned of “catastrophic flash flooding and numerous landslides” in southern Hispaniola and Jamaica, risks that could extend into early next week. Cuba also faces life-threatening flash flooding and landslides.
### Storm Surge Threat
Life-threatening storm surges were forecast near the landfall areas:
– Near and east of Melissa’s center at landfall, storm surges could reach 9 to 13 feet above ground level, accompanied by large, destructive waves.
– Along the Cuban coast, surges of 7 to 11 feet were possible late Tuesday and Wednesday.
– Southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos could see storm surges of 4 to 6 feet.
### Meteorological Context
Melissa is the 13th named storm and the fifth hurricane of the 2024 season. Other Atlantic Category 5 storms this season have included Erin and Humberto.
For historical perspective, Hurricane Dorian struck the Bahamas as a Category 5 storm in September 2019 with maximum sustained winds of 185 mph, devastating the Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama.
The all-time highest sustained hurricane wind speed in the Atlantic was recorded by Hurricane Allen in August 1980, reaching 190 mph over the Yucatan Peninsula before weakening to a Category 3 at South Texas landfall.
The most destructive Category 5 storm in U.S. history was Hurricane Andrew in August 1992, causing $27.3 billion in damage. Hurricane Michael, another Category 5, struck the Florida Panhandle in October 2018.
This time, the United States is not under threat from Melissa.
For comparison, Hurricane Gilbert hit Jamaica in 1988 as a Category 3 storm.
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Stay tuned for further updates on Hurricane Melissa and prepare accordingly if you are in the affected areas.
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2025/10/29/science-tropical-storm-melissa-caribbean-haiti/1881761067432/