WASHINGTON — Hurricane Melissa made landfall in south-western Jamaica at 1 p.m. Tuesday, 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.
Tuesday 10/28 11 p.m. Update
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.
Tuesday 10/28 8 p.m. Update
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
Tuesday 10/28 5 p.m. Update
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
Tuesday 10/28 11 a.m. Update
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
Hurricane Melissa tracker
When will conditions improve in Jamaica?
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.
Hurricane Melissa updates
The Associated Press and WKYC contributed to this report. Click here for your local weather forecast from your trusted team of meteorologists.
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