Home / Weather / Powerful Hurricane Melissa Threatens Caribbean, Spares Florida
Powerful Hurricane Melissa Threatens Caribbean, Spares Florida
27 Oct
Summary
- Hurricane Melissa surges to Category 5, expected to hit Jamaica, Cuba, and Bahamas
- Catastrophic flooding and landslides forecast for Jamaica, Haiti, and Dominican Republic
- No threat to Florida or U.S. East Coast, but coastal hazards expected in Northeast Florida
As of October 27, 2025, Hurricane Melissa has surged into a powerful Category 5 storm and is forecast to have devastating effects on islands in the northern Caribbean. The National Hurricane Center in Florida predicts Melissa will move near or over Jamaica through Tuesday, across southeastern Cuba Tuesday night, and across the southeastern Bahamas on Wednesday.
Catastrophic and life-threatening flash flooding and landslides are expected in portions of Jamaica, southern Haiti, and the Dominican Republic through the weekend. Peak storm surge heights could reach 9 to 13 feet above normal tide levels when the storm makes landfall, accompanied by large and destructive waves.
Despite the severe threat to the Caribbean, Melissa is currently moving slowly northward across the central Caribbean and is expected to turn northeast toward the Bahamas later this week. The storm poses no direct threat to Florida or the U.S. East Coast. However, the National Weather Service has issued warnings for coastal and marine hazards in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia through mid-week.
