Hurricane Melissa Makes Second Landfall in Cuba as Major Category 3 Storm

Hurricane Melissa, one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record, made landfall in Jamaica as a Category 5 storm with sustained winds of 185 mph, causing catastrophic damage including severe harm to hospitals, homes, and infrastructure. After devastating Jamaica, Melissa weakened to a Category 3 hurricane but remained extremely dangerous as it made its second landfall near Chivirico in eastern Cuba with 120 mph winds, prompting the evacuation of over 750,000 people and warnings of severe flooding and landslides. The storm moved quickly across Cuba, bringing heavy rains, high winds, and storm surges up to 12 feet, impacting provinces with fragile power grids and extensive storm recovery efforts. Following Cuba, Melissa is expected to strike the Bahamas as a Category 2 hurricane, with additional risks of flooding, high winds, and storm surge for the Turks and Caicos and potentially Bermuda. The storm has also caused continuous heavy rain in Haiti, resulting in fatalities and ongoing flooding concerns. Emergency responses are underway in affected areas as officials assess damage and clear debris.