Hurricane Melissa - Flash Update No. 1 (as of 27 October 2025)

SITUATION OVERVIEW

Hurricane Melissa has strengthened further, now a Category 5 system with maximum sustained winds of 175 mph (280 km/h), gusts above 190 mph (305 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 906 mb —conditions that signal the potential for catastrophic rainfall and flooding. As of 2:00 p.m. EST, the eye was located about 230 km southwest of Kingston and 525 km southwest of Guantánamo, moving slowly west-northwest at 3 mph (6 km/h).

Forecasts indicate that Melissa will continue moving west-northwest before turning north on 27 October and accelerating northeast on 28 October, placing Jamaica and eastern Cuba directly in the path of an extremely powerful hurricane. Tropical-storm-force winds extend up to 315 km from the centre, with surge heights forecast at 9–13 ft (2.7–4 m) along Jamaica’s south coast and 7–11 ft (2–3.3 m) along Cuba’s southeastern shoreline, accompanied by large and destructive waves.

Rainfall totals of 15–30 inches (380–760 mm) are expected across Jamaica, with local peaks up to 40 inches (1,000 mm), and 15–20 inches (380–500 mm) across eastern Cuba, triggering life-threatening flash floods and landslides. Dangerous surf and rip currents are affecting Hispaniola, Jamaica and eastern Cuba.

Across the region, UNICEF estimates that at least 1.6 million children are at risk as Hurricane Melissa moves through the Caribbean, underscoring the scale of humanitarian needs that could emerge once conditions allow assessments to begin.

Disclaimer

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.