He Hurricane Melissa It is now category 4, out of a total of 5, according to the latest report from the National Hurricane Center (NHC). The maximum sustained wind gusts are around 210 kilometers per hour, which maintains it as a major hurricane (Category 3 or higher), and it is moving at 13 kilometers per hour towards the northeast, increasingly closer to Cubawhere it is expected to make landfall this morning near Santiago de Cuba, the second most populated city in the country.
FOLLOW THE PATH OF HURRICANE MELISSA LIVE:
Currently, the eye of hurricane It is about 177 kilometers southwest of Guantanamoone of the areas in the east of the island that are already being affected by the storm, with heavy rains and winds.
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A woman walks down a street before Hurricane Melissa hit the city of Santiago de Cuba on October 28, 2025. (Photo by YAMIL LAGE / AFP).
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“The core of Melissa is expected to move over eastern Cuba throughout the night and Wednesday morning.”to then move towards the southeast or central Bahamas and approach Bermuda on Thursday”explains the NHC.
The path of Hurricane Melissa. (NHC).
Cuban authorities have warned of the risk to life due to the effects of Melissawith the probability of sudden flooding, sea penetration into low coastal areas, landslides and even dam failures.
Given the proximity of the cyclone, Nearly 650,000 people have been evacuated or insured in six provincestransportation has been paralyzed and teaching activity has been suspended and Critical infrastructure such as power plants, crops and state buildings have been protected.
A person protects themselves from the rain in Santiago de Cuba before the arrival of Hurricane Melissa on the island. (EFE/ Ernesto Mastrascusa).
The president, Miguel Diaz-Canelcalled on the population to act with caution to avoid loss of life.
Melissa crossed Jamaica this Tuesday, leaving more than half a million people without power and floods and landslides throughout the country.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared Jamaica a “disaster zone” and reported that about 15,000 people are staying in shelters at this time.
The hurricane hit Jamaica still being category 5 and then decreased to category 4, something that was expected to happen upon contact with land.
