Hurricane Melissa UPDATES: Storm Surges Towards Cuba as Jamaica hit by 185mph Gales
By Christopher Bucktin (United States), Editor – Tim Hanlon (News Reporter)
Hurricane Melissa has made landfall in Jamaica, bringing winds of up to 185mph – making it officially the strongest storm on record to hit the Caribbean island
“Catastrophic” Hurricane Melissa is now heading towards Cuba and the Bahamas after making landfall in Jamaica with winds reaching nearly 200mph.
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared the nation a “disaster area” yesterday after the strongest storm to ever hit the country flattened homes and businesses. Hundreds of Brit tourists are today on lockdown inside hotels in Jamaica and communities are cut off amid major flooding.
Seven people died in the preparation of the hurricane, though no deaths are as yet reported following Melissa making landfall on the island.
Murdered Stephen Lawrence’s dad Neville and the family of Chelsea star Raheem Sterling were among 58,000 Brits on the island, some residents, others visitors, when the storm struck.
02:40 Bradley Jolly
Brits in Jamaica reminded to follow UK’s travel advice
Speaking in the Commons yesterday, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “The FCDO stands ready to help British nationals 24/7.
“We have set up a crisis centre in the Foreign Office, including with support from the (Ministry of Defence), and also we are positioning specialist rapid deployment teams to provide consular assistance to British nationals in the region.
“Any British nationals who are there should follow our travel advice and the advice of the Jamaican authorities.
“There are 50,000 dual nationals who live in Jamaica, up to 8,000 British citizens who may be travelling there or may be on holiday there.”
02:05 KEY EVENT
Jamaica declared a ‘disaster area’ following Hurricane Melissa
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has declared the nation a “disaster area” .
He is looking to “prevent any exploitation at a time when citizens are securing food, water and supplies.” The declaration comes into effect today.
As part of the declaration, the government has renewed a trade order which will prohibit any price gouging during recovery efforts and the subsequent clean up.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness, pictured previously, spoke to reporters
01:16 KEY EVENT
Hurricane Melissa is now moving towards Cuba
Hurricane Melissa is now moving rapidly north towards Cuba, the largest country in the Caribbean by area and third largest by population.
Melissa is a Category 5 storm with sustained wind speeds of 185 mph (295 kph). The storm is expected to make landfall in eastern Cuba late Tuesday or early Wednesday.
Officials said there was no more preparation they could do and warned that damage assessment will be slow.
Devastating scenes pictured in Mandeville, Jamaica
01:04 Bradley Jolly
Storm Melissa’s heavy floodwaters sweep across the region
Heavy floodwaters swept across the region as wind tore roofs off buildings and boulders tumbled into roads, with landslides, fallen trees and numerous power outages reported.
In Kingston, officials warned those in the surrounding area to watch out for crocodiles that may be displaced from their natural habitat by flooding.
In a post on X, the NHC warned that it is an “extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation” and that “catastrophic winds, flash flooding and storm surge” were ongoing in the country.
The centre said residents should remain in their shelter overnight and advised that an interior room without windows, where falling trees can also be avoided, was the safest place within a building.
00:17 Bradley Jolly
Thousands of British tourists remain stranded in Jamaica
Thousands of British tourists remain stranded in Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa, one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes in history, wreaked havoc on the Caribbean island.
As many as 8,000 British citizens are in the country, with people ordered to stay inside to avoid the world’s strongest storm of the year so far, which left “catastrophic winds” and “flash flooding” in its wake.
On Tuesday, the US National Hurricane Centre (NHC) in Miami said Melissa was “one of the most powerful hurricane landfalls on record in the Atlantic basin” as the storm hit south-western Jamaica near New Hope with sustained winds of 185mph.
Hurricane Melissa has unleashed winds as strong as 185mph
23:52 Tim Hanlon
Major evacuations continuing in Cuba as Hurricane Melissa approaches
Around 281,000 people have already been evacuated in an eastern province of Cuba and taken to 101 evacuation centres or are staying with neighbors or relatives.
The president of the Provincial Defence Council and first secretary of the Cuban Communist Party in Santiago de Cuba, Beatriz Johnson Urrutia, confirmed the numbers. At the same time some low-lying or coastal communities have been completely evacuated, with only the personnel in charge of safeguarding property remaining.
Of the 16 reservoirs managed by the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources in the province, five are discharging water, with 78% of their capacity accumulated in anticipation of heavy downpours.
23:35 Tim Hanlon
People in Jamaica facing ‘dangerous conditions’ and landslides ‘likely’
Michael Brennan, director of the US National Hurricane Center in Miami, said that winds across Jamaica would remain dangerous even though Melissa’s centre had moved into open water.
He said people in Jamaica are still facing “dangerous conditions across the island.”
Melissa was now headed toward the southeast coast of Cuba, where it was expected to make landfall as a major hurricane early Wednesday.
The storm was expected to generate a storm surge of up to 12 feet in the region and drop up to 20 inches of rain in parts of eastern Cuba. “Numerous landslides are likely in those areas,” Mr Brennan said.
23:23 Tim Hanlon
‘Crisis centre’ is in place in Jamaica to help stranded Brits
Yvette Cooper revealed a “crisis centre” had been set up to help stranded Britons in Jamaica.
The Foreign Secretary said: “Melissa is potentially the most severe storm ever to hit the country. Many people will be thinking of family and friends in Jamaica and in the region.
“We are also positioning specialist rapid deployment teams to provide consular assistance to British nationals in the region. Any British nationals who are there should follow our travel advice and the advice of the Jamaican authorities.
“There are 50,000 dual nationals who live in Jamaica, up to 8,000 British citizens who may be travelling there or may be on holiday there. We do stand ready to help and respond.”
23:17 Christopher Bucktin
Hurricane Melissa flattens homes as 58,000 Brits on Jamaica face ‘storm of century’
Around 58,000 Brits have been left at the mercy of Hurricane Melissa with some residents and some on half-term holiday.
They included the father of murdered Stephen Lawrence, Neville Lawrence and the family of Chelsea star Raheem Sterling. Ahead of making landfall, the Jamaican government ordered evacuations from high-risk areas and closed all of the country’s airports, pleading with people to take shelter.
One Briton on holiday there said he had been ordered to stay in his hotel bathroom until the storm passed. Andrew Tracey was due to fly home on Monday before his flight was cancelled. He told how food packages were being delivered to guests, with deck chairs removed from the beach and swimming pools drained at his Negril hotel.
“The balcony and walls do feel as though they are vibrating just due to the strength of the wind,” he said. “I’m very nervous, it’s hard to comprehend what we are likely to expect,” he added.
Mother-of-two Michaela Menezes, originally from Cheshire, was also sheltering with her 14-year-old son and ten-year-old daughter after the country closed the airports. “When the news started coming in about the hurricane, I couldn’t sleep a wink and just knew I had to get myself and my kids to safety,” the 45-year-old said.
Rebecca Chapman, who is in Jamaica for her 25th wedding anniversary, told how she and her family’s hotel room is about 10 metres from the sea. “There’s this weird roar that sounds like it’s coming from the sea. It’s really odd, like something’s coming,” she said. “The birds have all gone so it’s all gone really quiet. It’s like a ghost town.”
23:10 Tim Hanlon
Jamaica still being battered and storm surges expected throughout the night
Damaging hurricane winds are persisting in parts of Jamaica despite the centre having now left the island.
Rohan Brown, with Jamaica’s Meteorological Service, said strong gusts are still being felt in St. James, Trelawny and sections of St. Ann and Hanover.
“We’re not in the clear as yet,” he said. He warned that as Melissa moves off the island, its counterclockwise rotation will bring a heavy storm surge to northern Jamaica through the night.
Meanwhile, officials are working to determine how best to clear the debris after the storm and distribute emergency relief supplies to avoid bottlenecks at Jamaica’s ports, said Richard Thompson, acting general director for Jamaica’s emergency management office.
“People out there are in need,” he said. Officials have said they hope to reopen the island’s airports by Thursday.
Nearly 15,000 people were in shelters as Melissa continued to pummel Jamaica. Some 540,000 customers, or 77%, were without power, officials said.
Residents hold pieces of a roof
23:02 Tim Hanlon
Blocked roads and severe flooding across Jamaica
Desmond McKenzie, deputy chairman of Jamaica’s Disaster Risk Management Council, noted that extensive damage was reported in the southwestern parish of St. Elizabeth, which he said “is under water.”
He said severe damage also was reported in parts of Clarendon in southern Jamaica.
Almost every parish in the country is experiencing blocked roads, fallen trees, damaged utility poles and excessive flooding, McKenzie said.
He said four main hospitals are damaged, with the storm knocking out power to one of them, forcing officials to evacuate 75 patients.
Debris on the coastline in Kingston as Hurricane Melissa hits
22:57 Tim Hanlon
At least three families trapped and can’t be rescued until conditions improve
Floodwaters have trapped at least three families in their homes in the community of Black River in western Jamaica, and crews were unable to help them because of dangerous weather conditions, said Desmond McKenzie, deputy chairman of Jamaica’s Disaster Risk Management Council.
“Roofs were flying off,” he said. “We are hoping and praying that the situation will ease so that some attempt can be made to get to those persons.”
Mr McKenzie said there are no confirmed reports of deaths and stressed that it was too early to talk about the extent of the damage because the storm was still pummeling the island.
22:23 Tim Hanlon
Hurricane hunters pictured on map as plane crosses eye of Melissa
A map shows planes belonging to the US Air Force Hurricane Hunters crossing the eye of Melissa.
The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron flew a Super Hercules across the storm to the other while up to 10,000ft in the air.
And another plane, a WP-3D Orion piloted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), came in from the southwest and made loops around the edge of the hurricane.
The aim of the flights is to gather information and data such as wind speed, pressure, temperature and humidity.
The Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters wrote about the mission: “During the event, the aircraft briefly experienced forces stronger than normal due to turbulence. While this does not automatically indicate damage, standard safety procedures require an inspection before returning to operations.”
The two planes marked on the map
21:48 Tim Hanlon
People told to remain inside as footage shows police removing trees and debris
Footage shows police removing fallen trees from roads as people in Jamaica are told to continue to remain inside.
Heavy floodwaters swept across southwestern Jamaica, winds tore roofs off buildings and boulders tumbled into roads as Hurricane Melissa came ashore on Tuesday.
Landslides, fallen trees and numerous power outages were reported even ahead of Melissa’s landfall, with officials in Jamaica cautioning that the cleanup and damage assessment would be slow.
Watch as Superintendent Anthony Wallace, head of the St Mary Division, provides an update. #TrackingHurricaneMelissa#AForce4Good pic.twitter.com/mm3WrYNcqW
— Jamaica Constabulary Force (@JamaicaConstab) October 28, 2025
21:30 KEY EVENT
Hurricane Melissa’s centre leaves Jamaica, having sustained winds of 145mph
Hurricane Melissa’s centre has now left the mainland of Jamaica having had sustained winds of 145mph on the island.
The hurricane is moving north-northeast at 8mph into the Caribbean Sea.
According to the National Hurricane Center, Melissa was centered about 15 miles east of Montego Bay, Jamaica, and about 200 miles southwest of Guantánamo, Cuba.
21:20 Tim Hanlon
Schools and hospitals have ‘extensive damage’ from hurricane
Schools and hospitals have suffered “extensive damage” after Melissa swept through the south of Jamaica including the St Elizabeth area.
“There is extensive, extensive damage in the southwestern areas, in St Elizabeth, major damage in St Elizabeth, a lot of flooding, extensive wind damage to schools, hospitals out there, homes,” Richard Thompson, Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), told CNN.
21:16 Tim Hanlon
People use horse-drawn carts to evacuate in Cuba
In the Sierra Maestra mountains in the province of Santiago de Cuba, people have used all kinds of transportation to evacuate from the most isolated areas, including buses, trucks and even horse-drawn carts.
Some of those fleeing their residences in remote areas huddled into the home of 83-year-old Eduviges Figueroa at the foot of the Sierra Maestra mountains.
“We’re helping as best we can,” she said. “Now I’m cooking for everyone.” Currently there are around 20 people in her home.
21:00 Tim Hanlon
Widespread internet outages in Jamaica as Starlink offers free connection
People are facing internet outages in Jamaica with coverage at less than half of the usual levels according to monitoring sites.
At the same time Starlink is offering a free service until the end of the hurricane.
Internet connectivity is down to just 42% and appears to be getting worse according to NetBlocks.
While a post on X from Starlink reads: “For those impacted by Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica and the Bahamas, Starlink service is now free through the end of November to help with response and recovery efforts.”
20:43 Tim Hanlon
Around 25,000 tourists in Jamaica as the country is battered by Hurricane Melissa
Around 25,000 tourists are currently in Jamaica as the country is battered by Hurricane Melissa.
“The safety and security of our visitors are paramount,” Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett said.
The Tourism Emergency Operations Centre (TEOC) had been activated to coordinate support efforts for “everyone within the tourism sector.”
Visitors who have to extend their stay on the island due to the crisis are being offered “distress rates”.
“It’s all hands-on deck to ensure the safety of our visitors and locals alike,” Mr Bartlett said. “Through the coordinated efforts of the TEOC and our industry partners, we are ensuring that all necessary measures are in place to protect and assist every guest.”
20:35 Tim Hanlon
National Hurricane Centre update warns of ‘catastrophic winds’
An update from the US’ National Hurricane Centre states of Hurricane Melissa: “Catastrophic winds, flash flooding, and storms surge ongoing in Jamaica. Melisaa remains a powerful category 4 hurricane over northwestern Jamaica.”
It continues: “This is an extremely dangerous and life threatening situation. Residents should not leave their shelter and should remain in place through the passage of these life-threatening conditions.
“To protect yourself from wind, the best thing you can do is put as many walls as possible between you and the outside. An interior room without windows, ideally one where you can also avoid falling trees, is the safest place you can be in a building. You can cover yourself with a mattress and wear a helmet for added protection.”
A torn-off roof is seen in St Catherine, Jamaica
20:23 Tim Hanlon
Cubans warned not to leave evacuation sites due to ‘a lot of damage’
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said every effort will be made to protect residents despite the fragility of the island’s economy.
In a televised address, Díaz-Canel urged the population to not underestimate the power of the storm, calling it “the strongest ever to hit national territory.”
He asked residents to avoid bathing in swollen rivers and urged them not to leave evacuation sites “until the order has been given.”
He added: “There will be a lot of work to do. We know there will be a lot of damage.”
20:19 Tim Hanlon
Hurricane Melissa downgraded to Category 4 but remains ‘extremely dangerous’
Hurricane Melissa remains “extremely dangerous” but it has been downgraded to a Category 4 storm by the US’ National Hurricane Centre.
The hurricane’s center is about 10 miles south of Montego Bay, Jamaica, and was heading north-northeast at 8mph. Melissa’s centre will likely move off land and out into the Caribbean Sea in the next hour or two.
