Where is Hurricane Melissa? Track the storm

WASHINGTON — Hurricane Melissa made landfall in south-western Jamaica early Tuesday afternoon, packing winds of 185 mph. It was the strongest hurricane to make landfall on the island since recordkeeping began 174 years ago. 

With 892 millibars of central pressure, it also tied two records for the strongest Atlantic storm on landfall. The pressure — the key measurement meteorologists use — ties 1935’s Labor Day hurricane in Florida and Hurricane Dorian from 2019.

The center of Hurricane Melissa is now about 150 miles northeast of the Bahamas, and impacts will continue to subside over the next several hours.  Melissa maintains its category 2 hurricane status this morning with winds of 105 mph as of the 5 a.m. advisory Thursday. It is also continuing its quicker forward speed, moving to the NNE at 21mph.  Pressure dropped a touch to 968 mb. Melissa is about 755 miles SW of Bermuda.  Bermuda still has a hurricane warning in effect.  The center of the hurricane will move just west of Bermuda, but Bermuda will be on the stronger right-hand side and will still have to deal with some of the stronger impacts later in the day. 

– Courteney Jacobazzi WTSP Morning Meteorologist

The center of Hurricane Melissa is now pullig away from the Bahamas, but impacts will continue through the overnight hours.  Melissa has slightly strenghtened to a category 2 storms as it moves back over open water with winds of 105 mph as of the 11 p.m. advisory Wednesday. It is also moving a little faster.  It’s now moving NNE at 21mph.  Pressure at 970 mb. Melissa is about 800 miles SW of Bermuda.  Bermuda still has a hurricane warning in effect.  The center of the hurricane will move just west of Bermuda, but Bermuda will be on the stronger right-hand side and will still have to deal with some of the stronger impacts later in the day. 

– Chris Holcomb, 11Alive Chief Meteorologist

Hurricane Melissa maintains category 1 strength as it moves through the central and southern Bahamas.  Max winds are at 90mph.  The storm is moving NNE at 16mph.  Pressure is at 970mb.  Melissa is pulling away from Long Island and impacting Rum Cay, Conception Island and Sugar Loaf Settlement.   The center of the storm will be pulling away from the Bahamas tonight.  It will pass just to the west of Bermuda later on Thursday.  Bermuda currently has a hurricane warning.  Hurricane warnings remain in effect for the central and southern Bahamas.  Turks and Caicos still are under a tropical storm warning.  Cuba no longer has a hurricane warning.  Haiti no longer has a tropical storm warning.

– Chris Holcomb, 11Alive Chief Meteorologist

The National Hurricane Center’s latest models show Hurricane Melissa has weakened to a Category 1 hurricane, with sustained winds of 90 mph. Currently, it is 80 miles southeast of the Bahamas.  Melissa has picked up speed and is now moving northeast at 16 mph. The National Hurricane Center forecasts damaging winds, flooding rain and dangerous storm surge in the central Bahamas tonight.  Hurricane conditions are expected in Bermuda late Thursday. The storm will then transition to extratropical as it heads Northeast and out to sea.

The National Hurricane Center’s latest models show Hurricane Melissa has now moved off the east coast of Cuba.  It is about 150 miles south of the central Bahamas. It is moving NE at 14 miles per hour. Heavy rain will continue in eastern Cuba throughout the day with 10-20 inches expected.  This could trigger life threatening flash flooding. The southeast Bahamas is expected to get 5-10″ of rain today.  

After losing a little strength over Jamaica Tuesday, Hurricane Melissa is getting stronger again over water as it nears the southern coast of Cuba.  The 11pm advisory from the National Hurricane Center shows Melissa back up to category 4 strength with winds of 130mph.

It will make another landfall on the southern coast of Cuba just west of Santiago de Cuba overnight Tuesday into Wednesday.  Max winds are expected to be around 130mph at landfall. The storm is moving northeast at 9mph.  Pressure is up to 950mb. Even though it’s not as strong as it was over Jamaica, this is still an extremely dangerous storm. 

Jamaica is no longer under a hurricane warning, but they are under a tropical storm warning as tropical storm force winds are still hitting the island as Melissa pulls way.  Southeast Cuba and the southeast Bahamas have hurricane warnings in effect.

After the storm moves over the southeast Bahamas Wednesday afternoon, it will move quickly northeast and threaten Bermuda Thursday.  Bermuda is currently under a hurricane watch. 

Hurricane Melissa is pulling away from Jamaica.  Since it has spent hours over land, it has lost a little strength.  It is now a category 3 hurricane with max winds of 125mph.  This is still considered a major hurricane.  It is located 160 miles SW of Guantanamo, Cuba.  It is moving NNE at 8mph.  Central pressure is now up a little to 950mb.  

The hurricane’s next stop is the SE coast of Cuba.  That next landfall happens overnight Tuesday into Wednesday.  It is expected to increase in strength again over water and become a category 4 hurricane before hitting Cuba.  

After crossing Cuba, the storm moves to the southeast Bahamas Wednesday afternoon as a category 3 hurricane with winds expected to be 115mph. 

– Chris Holcomb, 11Alive Chief Meteorologist

As of 5 p.m. ET Tuesday, Melissa was still a powerful Category 4 storm, with winds of 145 mph. The hurricane is centered about 15 miles east of Montego Bay and about 200 miles southwest of Guantánamo, Cuba. It is moving north-northeast at 8 mph, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.

The storm has already been blamed for at least seven deaths in the Caribbean — three in Jamaica, three in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic. – Meteorologist Julie Martin

Hours before the storm, the Jamaican government said it did all it could to prepare as it warned of catastrophic damage. 

As of 11 a.m. ET Tuesday, Melissa gained strength as a Category 5 hurricane, centered about 40 miles south-southeast of Negril, Jamaica, and about 235 miles southwest of Guantánamo, Cuba, moving north, northeast at 9 mph, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami. Winds are currently at 185 mph.

After hitting Jamaica, Melissa also is expected to make landfall in eastern Cuba late Tuesday as a powerful hurricane. The storm has already been blamed for at least seven deaths in the Caribbean — three in Jamaica, three in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic. – Meteorologist Julie Martin

The NHC says damaging winds will continue across portions of Jamaica
through Tuesday evening, especially in mountainous areas. The agency advises residents remain in a safe shelter through the night.

Officials say more than 240,000 customers across Jamaica are without power. Early reports noted outages were significant across several parishes including St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Manchester, Portland, St. Thomas and St. Andrew. 

A second landfall across southeastern Cuba is expected by Tuesday night into early Wednesday. Hurricane conditions are expected in the southeastern and central
Bahamas Wednesday.

Live updates from the Associated Press

Hurricane Melissa is set to hit Jamaica as its strongest storm since records began

The Associated Press and WKYC contributed to this report.  Click here for your local weather forecast from your trusted team of meteorologists.