Hurricane Melissa is now moving across eastern Cuba with maximum sustained winds near 115 miles per hour, continuing its projected path toward the southeastern and central Bahamas later today, according to the 5 a.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center.
The powerful Category 3 system (down from what was a Category 5) was located about 60 miles west of Guantanamo, Cuba, and about 230 miles south of the central Bahamas early Wednesday morning. Melissa is moving northeast at 12 miles per hour, and forecasters expect the storm to accelerate over the next 48 hours as it tracks toward Bermuda.
Hurricane Warnings Remain in Effect
Hurricane Warnings are in place for the Cuban provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo, Holguin and Las Tunas, as well as for the southeastern and central Bahamas.
Tropical Storm Warnings remain active for Jamaica, Haiti, the Cuban province of Camaguey and the Turks and Caicos Islands. A Hurricane Watch is also in effect for Bermuda.
Officials urge residents in the Bahamas to complete final preparations immediately and remain sheltered as conditions deteriorate throughout the day. In eastern Cuba, hurricane-force winds are ongoing, and severe flooding has already been reported.
Powerful Winds and Dangerous Flooding
Melissa’s hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from its center, with tropical-storm-force winds reaching up to 185 miles. A weather station at Guantanamo Bay recently reported sustained winds of 59 miles per hour and gusts of 75 miles per hour. The estimated minimum central pressure is 960 millibars.
The National Hurricane Center warns that Melissa will remain a “powerful hurricane” as it moves across the Bahamas today and passes near or west of Bermuda late Thursday and Thursday night.
Catastrophic Rainfall Totals
The storm continues to unleash torrential rain across the region. Jamaica has already seen widespread flooding and landslides, with rainfall totals between 12 and 24 inches — and isolated amounts up to 30 inches in mountainous terrain.
Eastern Cuba is expected to receive 10 to 20 inches of rain, with up to 25 inches possible in higher elevations, triggering life-threatening flash floods and landslides. The southeastern Bahamas are forecast to receive 5 to 10 inches of rain, while the Turks and Caicos may see up to 3 inches. Heavy rainfall could reach Bermuda by Thursday night.
Residents across the affected areas are being urged to remain in safe shelter and follow guidance from local authorities as Hurricane Melissa continues its path through the northern Caribbean.
