About Hurricane Melissa

A new tropical cyclone named MELISSA formed over the southern Caribbean Sea on the afternoon (UTC) of 21 October and started moving north toward Jamaica and Cuba as a tropical storm. On 22 October at 6:00, its centre was located offshore approximately 465 km south-east of Jamaica and 630km south of southern Cuba, with maximum sustained winds of 85 km/h (tropical storm). MELISSA is forecast to continue north over the Caribbean Sea and to reach south-eastern Jamaica on very early in the morning of 27 October, with maximum sustained winds up to 139 km/h (category 1 hurricane). (ECHO, 22 Oct 2025)

The effects of MELISSA in the Dominican Republic have resulted in almost 94,000 affected people and about 55 displaced persons, as reported by IFRC and UNICEF. Additionally, more than 50 aqueducts have been affected, impacting over 549,000 users. (ECHO, 23 Oct 2025)

As of 23 October at 9:00 a.m., the United States National Hurricane Center reported that the center of Tropical Storm Melissa was located approximately 485 km southwest of Port-au-Prince [Haiti]. The storm is moving west-northwest at nearly 6 km/h, with tropical-storm-force winds extending up to 185 km from the center. Melissa is expected to strengthen into a major hurricane by the end of the weekend or early next week. [...] The CERF Anticipatory Action Framework has been activated. A total of US$4 million has been allocated to WFP, UNICEF and IOM to enable the launch of early actions aimed at reducing the impact of the shock on vulnerable populations. (OCHA, 23 Oct 2025)

On 26 October, Hurricane MELISSA moved over the Caribbean Sea as a Category 4 hurricane. On 27 October at 6.00 UTC, its centre was located about 160 km southwest of Jamaica and 430 km southwest of Cuba, with maximum sustained winds of 240 km/h (Category 4). In Haiti, CDEMA reports three fatalities, five injuries, and 124 evacuated families. In Jamaica, IFRC reports 485 displaced people. In the Dominican Republic, one fatality, one missing person, and 94,000 affected people were reported, with over 3,500 evacuated as a precaution. MELISSA is forecast to make landfall in western Jamaica on 28 October around 12.00 UTC with winds up to 259 km/h (Category 5), then near Santiago de Cuba on 29 October morning with winds up to 204 km/h (Category 3). Copernicus Emergency Management Service (EMSR847) was activated on 26 October. WFP is preparing relief supplies from WFP, IOM, UNICEF, and PAHO in Barbados for sea transport via a French military vessel, with part of the aid provided by DG ECHO. Over the next 72 hours, very heavy rainfall, strong winds, and storm surges are forecast for Jamaica, eastern Cuba, most of Haiti, and southern Dominican Republic. NOAA has issued hurricane warnings for Jamaica and southern Cuba. (ECHO, 27 Oct 2025)

On 28 October at 3.00 UTC, Hurricane MELISSA centre was located about 145 km southwest of Jamaica, with maximum sustained winds of 278 km/h (Category 5). It is forecast to move north-northeastward and make landfall west of Black River city (Saint Elizabeth parish), on 28 October in the afternoon (UTC), as a Category 5 hurricane. In Haiti, according to UNICEF, as of 27 October, the death toll stands at three, 16 people have been injured, 3,600 people are sheltered according to CDEMA and ten houses damaged. IFRC reports in Jamaica 485 displaced people, and at least 1,6 million of affected people with a potential exposure on the entire population; in the Dominican Republic two fatalities, 3,785 displaced people, and almost 1,3 million affected people. Approximately 2,000 and 800 people have been affected in the Bahamas and Panama, respectively. After landfall, MELISSA is forecast to move northeastward to Cuba, making a second landfall in the morning of 29 October with winds of up to 167 km/h (Category 2). Copernicus Emergency Management Service (EMSR847) was activated on 26 October. On 27 October, Jamaica activated the Union Civil Protection Mechanism. Over the next 72 hours, severe rainfall, strong winds, and storm surges are forecast for Jamaica, eastern Cuba, most of Haiti, the southern Dominican Republic, and the Bahamas. NOAA has issued hurricane warnings for Jamaica, eastern Cuba, and southeastern and central Bahamas. Prepositioning and preparedness efforts are in place for Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Cuba. (ECHO, 28 Oct 2025)

Hurricane MELISSA made landfall as a Category 5 hurricane very close to Black River city in St. Elizabeth Parish, southwestern Jamaica, in the evening of 28 October (UTC). It then crossed western Jamaica and continued northeast, making a second landfall over the southeastern coast of Cuba approximately 30 km west of Santiago de Cuba. As of 29 October at 7:10, its centre was inland, roughly 30 km east of Chivirico, with maximum sustained winds of 195 km/h. In Jamaica, 6,000 people are currently displaced, with 800 shelters activated nationwide. In Cuba, at least 750,000 have been evacuated. In Haiti, the death toll stands at three, while in the Dominican Republic, two people have died, and nearly 1.8 million have been affected. Preventive evacuations started in the Bahamas ... From 29-31 October, heavy rainfall, strong winds, and storm surges are expected in Jamaica, Cuba, most of Haiti, southern Dominican Republic, and the central and southeastern Bahamas. (ECHO, 29 Oct 2025)

Hurricane Melissa is moving northeast over the northern Atlantic Ocean, passing close to Bermuda after crossing Jamaica, Cuba, and the Bahamas between 28 and 30 October. As at 6:00 UTC on 31 October, its centre was located 240 km north-northwest of Bermuda, with maximum sustained winds of 150 km/h. Humanitarian partners and DG ECHO reported five fatalities, 12 injuries, 25,000 people sheltered, and 2.3 million affected in Jamaica. In the Dominican Republic, two deaths were recorded, along with 4,135 displaced individuals and 1.7 million affected. In Haiti, 23 people died, 13 are missing, 17 were injured, nearly 14,000 sheltered, and 2.3 million affected. In Cuba 17 people were injured, 735,000 sheltered, and 3 million affected. Melissa is forecast to move away from Bermuda in the morning of 31 October and pass south of Newfoundland’s Avalon Peninsula as a post-tropical cyclone between 31 October and 1 November. (ECHO, 31 Oct 2025)