• Moving north: Melissa is classified as an “extremely dangerous” Category 3 hurricane as it moves toward Cuba, the National Hurricane Center warned. The storm had previously made a historic landfall in Jamaica, marking one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes in history. For ongoing updates and additional coverage, viewers can follow CNN’s live reporting. Meteorologists emphasize that while the storm has slightly weakened from Category 4, its potential for destruction remains extremely high, particularly in coastal and mountainous regions.
• Impact: Reports are already coming in of widespread destruction in southwestern Jamaica, including damage to homes, hospitals, and schools. Prime Minister Andrew Holness has officially declared the country a disaster area as of Tuesday, signaling the need for immediate emergency measures. Officials are working to restore basic services and provide relief to those affected, but conditions remain dangerous and recovery efforts are expected to take weeks.
• Already deadly: Hurricane Melissa has already caused at least seven fatalities — three in Jamaica during storm preparations, three in Haiti, and one in the Dominican Republic. Emergency authorities continue to urge residents to take all warnings seriously and seek shelter as needed. Rescue and medical teams are on high alert across the region to respond to emergencies and assist vulnerable populations.
Melissa is approaching landfall in eastern Cuba. Here’s what we know:
From CNN Staff: Hurricane Melissa briefly strengthened back into a Category 4 storm with winds reaching 130 mph, fueled by warm Caribbean waters, as it departed Jamaica. The storm is now moving aggressively toward Cuba, posing a severe threat to the island’s eastern and central regions.
As of 2 a.m. ET, Melissa has weakened slightly to a Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds of 125 mph, but remains classified as an “extremely dangerous” storm by the National Hurricane Center. The hurricane’s core is projected to make landfall in southeastern Cuba early Wednesday morning, before advancing across the central or southeastern Bahamas later the same day.
The hurricane’s death toll has risen to at least seven, with three fatalities reported in Jamaica during storm preparations, three in Haiti, and one in the Dominican Republic. Authorities are monitoring conditions closely, anticipating further impacts in the coming hours.
Cuba:
More than 735,000 people have been evacuated ahead of Melissa’s landfall, according to Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel. He warned, “It will be a very difficult night for all of Cuba, but we are going to recover.” Residents in eastern Cuba face the potential of up to 25 inches of rainfall in mountainous areas, raising the risk of life-threatening flash floods and dangerous mudslides. Coastal regions are bracing for sustained winds of up to 120 mph, with gusts potentially higher near the storm’s center, and storm surges reaching up to 12 feet. Local authorities continue to coordinate evacuations and prepare emergency shelters to minimize casualties.
Jamaica:
Approximately 15,000 Jamaicans were housed in emergency shelters across the country on Tuesday, including at a police station in the southwestern city of Black River. Widespread damage has been reported in St. Elizabeth parish, affecting residential areas, hospitals, and commercial properties. Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared Jamaica a “disaster area,” partly to prevent price gouging as food, water, and essential supplies become scarce.
The Jamaican government has launched an official website to streamline relief and recovery efforts, providing resources and guidance to residents. Holness stated that crews are already beginning recovery operations in the eastern part of the island, with the aim of restoring electricity and telecommunications by Wednesday. The southern portion of Jamaica, however, will require additional days for services to return fully.
More than 500,000 residents in Jamaica were without power as of Tuesday, with the heaviest impact felt in western regions, affecting more than 77% of Jamaica Public Service customers. Internet connectivity dropped to roughly 30% of normal levels by late Tuesday, according to NetBlocks, an internet monitoring organization. Despite the damage, approximately 25,000 tourists remain in the country as cleanup and recovery efforts continue.
President Donald Trump, while in the final leg of his Asian tour, stated that the United States is prepared to assist Jamaica in its recovery. Speaking from Air Force One, he noted, “We’re watching it closely and we’re prepared to move, but it’s doing tremendous damage.” Coordination with local and international aid organizations is expected to ramp up in the coming days to address immediate humanitarian needs.