Hurricane Melissa made landfall in eastern Cuba early Wednesday near the coastal city of Chivirico, battering the region with Category 3-strength winds and torrential rain after wreaking havoc across Jamaica, where it ranked among the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC).
Authorities said hundreds of thousands of residents had been evacuated to emergency shelters as the powerful storm barreled into Cuba’s southeastern provinces. Hurricane warnings remained in effect for Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, Holguín, and Las Tunas.
Storm Details and Track
As of early Wednesday, Melissa had maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (193 kph) and was moving northeast at 10 mph (16 kph), the NHC said in a morning advisory. The storm’s center was located about 20 miles (32 kilometers) east of Chivirico and 60 miles (97 kilometers) west-southwest of Guantánamo.
Forecasters predicted the hurricane would cross Cuba through the morning before emerging into the Bahamas later Wednesday, where it is expected to maintain significant strength.
The storm is forecast to bring life-threatening flooding, dangerous storm surges, and numerous landslides, particularly in mountainous areas of eastern Cuba. A hurricane watch has also been issued for Bermuda, which could experience severe weather as Melissa continues on its northeast trajectory.
Melissa tore through Jamaica on Tuesday with sustained winds of 185 mph (295 kph) — the strongest ever recorded in the country’s modern history. The storm flattened homes, uprooted trees, and caused widespread power outages across the island.
In eastern Cuba, forecasters warned of storm surges up to 12 feet (3.6 meters) and rainfall totals reaching 20 inches (51 centimeters) in some areas, raising fears of catastrophic flooding.
“Numerous landslides are likely in those areas,” said Michael Brennan, director of the National Hurricane Center in Miami. “Even well inland, heavy rainfall will pose a severe risk to life and property.”
As emergency crews brace for impact, Cuban authorities have suspended flights, closed ports, and mobilized military and civil defense units to assist in relief and evacuation efforts. The full extent of damage in both Jamaica and eastern Cuba is still being assessed as Hurricane Melissa continues its destructive path toward the Bahamas.
