Hurricane Melissa live updates: No official death toll in Jamaica

Hurricane Melissa tore a path of destruction across Jamaica.

Last Updated: October 30, 2025, 10:54 PM EDT

Hurricane Melissa tore a path of destruction across Jamaica after the storm made landfall on Tuesday as a Category 5 hurricane, one of the most powerful landfalls on record in the Atlantic basin.

After lashing Jamaica with dangerous winds and flooding rain, Melissa made a second landfall in Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane on Wednesday morning. Melissa then moved through the Bahamas, and next, on Thursday night, the storm will pass Bermuda as a Category 1 or 2 hurricane.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
Oct 29, 2025, 11:20 AM EDT

Latest forecast

Hurricane Melissa, now a Category 2 storm with winds of 100 mph, has moved away from Cuba and is heading northeast toward the southeastern Bahamas.

Tracking Hurricane Melissa in the Caribbean Sea.
ABC News

But the flooding rains and damaging winds will continue for Cuba throughout the day. Rain totals on the island are forecast to reach 10 to 20 inches and could even hit 25 inches in some areas.

A family salvages belongings from the rubble of their home after it collapsed during Hurricane Melissa's passage through Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, October 29, 2025.
Yamil Lage/AFP via Getty Images

The southeast Bahamas should expect 5 to 10 inches of rainfall and a storm surge of 4 to 7 feet.

-ABC News' Kenton Gewecke

Oct 29, 2025, 9:02 AM EDT

Jamaica to ramp up recovery efforts

Recovery efforts are expected to ramp up across Jamaica after the monster storm ripped across the island on Tuesday, destroying homes and schools.

A store stands destroyed following the passage of Hurricane Melissa in Manchester, Jamaica, October 28, 2025.
Ricardo Makyn/AFP via Getty Images

A damaged car by a fallen tree is seen after the passage of Hurricane Melissa in Manchester, Jamaica, October 29, 2025.
Ricardo Makyn/AFP via Getty Images

After the storm knocked out power to at least 500,000 customers, Jamaica Public Service said Wednesday morning, “Teams worked until late last night addressing safety risks, and restored service to some customers in least damaged parishes. However, we must get the official all-clear from relevant agencies before officially beginning post-hurricane assessment and restoration.”

The Jamaica Constabulary Force posted video of cleanup efforts at police headquarters on Wednesday.

"As the recovery phase begins following the devastating passage of Hurricane Melissa, it’s all hands on deck,” police said.

-ABC News’ Othon Leyva

Oct 29, 2025, 8:09 AM EDT

State Department deploying disaster response team

The State Department said it's activated U.S.-based Urban Search and Rescue teams and has deployed a regional Disaster Assistance Response Team to help with the response to Hurricane Melissa's destruction in the Caribbean.

Oct 29, 2025, 8:00 AM EDT

Melissa to exit Cuba, take aim at Bahamas

Melissa has weakened to a Category 2 hurricane with 105 mph winds hours after making landfall in Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane.

A man herds cattle along the coastline ahead of Hurricane Melissa's landfall, in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, Oct. 28, 2025.
Norlys Perez/Reuters

The storm, now moving north-northeast at 14 mph, will soon exit Cuba and take aim at the southeastern Bahamas.

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