Hurricane Melissa weakens into Category 2 hurricane, devastates Cuba – DW – 10/29/2025

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said Wednesday that Hurricane Melissa had caused “extensive damage” after making landfall overnight on the island’s southern coast.

Diaz-Canel said in a post on social media that it was “a very difficult morning” and warned that the storm was still over Cuban territory. He urged citizens to remain alert, maintain discipline and stay in safe shelter.

The storm, which has been downgraded to a Category 2, was expected to originate from

Storm surges up to 3.6 m (12 ft) were expected in eastern Cuba, although the storm was downgraded to a Category 2.

Hurricane Melissa has slammed across Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane, causing severe flooding and forcing the evacuation of more than 735,000 people after making landfall in Jamaica, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC).

Videos on social media showed residents in south-eastern Cuba drowning in knee-deep water as roads turned into rivers. The NHC said the “extremely dangerous” storm hit Santiago de Cuba province early Wednesday and warned of devastating flooding and landslides.

Melissa is moving north-northeast at 22 kilometers per hour, with sustained winds of 165 kilometers per hour (105 mph). Hurricane warnings remained in effect for Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo, Holguín and Las Tunas provinces, as well as parts of the Bahamas.

Authorities in Cuba have warned that Hurricane Melissa could worsen the country’s dire economic crisis, which has already caused widespread power outages along with fuel and food shortages.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said in a televised address that authorities feared significant destruction, adding that “a lot of work will have to be done” in the aftermath. He said no resources were being spared to protect lives and “no one will be left behind.”

Diaz-Canel urged citizens not to underestimate the storm and described Melissa as “the most powerful hurricane ever to hit the national territory.”

United States President Donald Trump said the US will help Jamaica recover from Hurricane Melissa, after the Caribbean island nation was hit by one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes in history.

“We’re watching this closely and we’re preparing to move forward,” Trump said. He said, “I’ve never seen it before. I think it could be that high, but I’ve never seen it.”

Jamaican officials reported widespread damage in parts of Clarendon and the southwestern parish of St. Elizabeth in southern Jamaica, which were described as “underwater”. The storm also damaged four hospitals, leaving one without power.

Hurricane Melissa has weakened and reached Cuba as a major hurricane early Wednesday after devastating Jamaica.

More than 700,000 people have been evacuated, according to Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel.

Forecasters have warned that the now Category 3 hurricane could cause devastating damage to Santiago de Cuba and surrounding areas.

Hurricane warnings were issued for Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo, Holguín and Las Tunas provinces, as well as parts of the southeastern and central Bahamas.

The US National Hurricane Center said Hurricane Melissa strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane as it picked up speed over the Caribbean Sea and approached eastern Cuba.

The storm took several hours to cross Jamaica. This land passage reduced its winds, dropping it to Category 3 – down from the maximum Category 5 – before it rose back to Category 4.

Meanwhile, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared the island a “disaster area”, and officials warned residents to shelter in place due to the continued threat of flooding and landslides, as dangerous weather persists even after the worst of the storm has passed.

Hurricane Melissa has made landfall in Jamaica and has been downgraded to a Category 4 hurricane.

With winds of up to 295 kilometers per hour, it is the most powerful hurricane ever to directly strike the Caribbean country of 2.8 million people.

US weather officials said the center of Hurricane Melissa moved away from Jamaica and towards Cuba on Tuesday afternoon.

“Life-threatening storm surge and damaging winds are expected to begin late today across eastern Cuba,” the National Hurricane Center said in its latest advisory.

Melissa is forecast to hit the communist-run island early Wednesday.

According to the US National Hurricane Center, Melissa is losing some strength, but it remains an “extremely dangerous” hurricane as it moves toward northwestern Jamaica.

As of 4:00 p.m. ET (20:00 UTC), Melissa is a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 150 mph (240 km/h).

Jamaican health officials have warned residents to be alert for crocodiles that may have been displaced by Hurricane Melissa.

“Rising water levels in rivers, streams and swamps could lead to crocodiles coming into residential areas,” the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA) posted on Instagram.

“Residents living near these areas are advised to remain vigilant and avoid flood waters,” it said.

Here are some of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes on record:

Hurricane Allen (1980)

The most powerful Atlantic hurricane ever recorded in terms of wind speed, Hurricane Allen killed more than 200 people in Haiti before moving toward Texas in 1980. Its sustained winds reached 190 mph (305 km/h) but weakened before landfall.

Hurricane Melissa (2025)

Making landfall in Jamaica with winds of 185 mph (295 km/h), Melissa set the record for the fastest speed of an Atlantic hurricane during landfall.

Hurricane Dorian (2019)

Dorian devastated the Bahamas as the most powerful hurricane ever to strike the country, with sustained winds of 185 mph (295 km/h).

Hurricane Wilma (2005)

Wilma rapidly intensified into a Category 5 hurricane and reached sustained winds estimated around 185 mph (295 km/h). It then hit Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula before hitting South Florida.

Hurricane Gilbert (1988)

Gilbert reached sustained winds of 185 mph (295 km/h) and created the then-record lowest pressure in the Atlantic, leaving a trail of destruction in Jamaica and Mexico.

About 6,000 people in Jamaica were sheltering in 382 emergency centers as Hurricane Melissa struck the island on Tuesday, according to officials.

Despite repeated evacuation warnings, Desmond McKenzie, vice-chairman of the Disaster Risk Management Council of Jamaica, expressed concern that few residents in high-risk areas such as St. Elizabeth Parish in the south were using shelters.

Officials estimate that more than 50,000 people may have to temporarily leave their homes due to the storm’s devastation.

The Government of Jamaica has launched a website named support jamaica Providing latest information to residents.

After making landfall in Jamaica, Melissa is expected to remain a powerful hurricane as it crosses eastern Cuba and strikes the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos by Wednesday.

In Cuba, officials said about 500,000 people had been evacuated from areas hit by winds and flooding.

Meanwhile, Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Davis has issued an evacuation for people in the eastern and southern parts of the archipelago.

Despite government orders to evacuate flood-prone areas, Colin Bogle, a Mercy Corps adviser based near the capital Kingston, said most families were sheltering in place.

“Many people have never experienced anything like this before and the uncertainty is terrifying,” he said. “There is intense fear of losing homes and livelihoods, injury and displacement.”

Experts have predicted that the damage caused by Melissa could exceed that of Hurricane Katrina.

Before the landfall, more than 240,000 people were already without power, and about one-quarter of the telecommunications system was offline, according to Transport and Energy Minister Daryl Vaz.

Vaz said crews would clean and test the island’s two major international airports on Wednesday, which are close to sea level, to allow emergency relief flights to arrive as soon as Thursday.

Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica on Tuesday – the most powerful hurricane to hit the Caribbean island since records were kept 174 years ago.

Damaging winds, torrential flooding, and storm surge were already devastating Jamaica before the storm.