Hurricane Melissa Live Camera Update
Here’s the latest on Hurricane Melissa — what’s happening now, what’s coming next, and what to keep an eye on.
✅ Key current status
Hurricane Melissa made landfall in western Jamaica near New Hope as a Category 5 hurricane, with estimated sustained winds of about 185 mph (≈ 295 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of around 892 mb, making it one of the strongest landfalls in the Atlantic on record.
The storm is moving slowly (around 7–9 mph / ~11–15 km/h) in a north-northeast direction, meaning the impacted areas will endure the intense effects for an extended time.
Jamaica is facing catastrophic-level threats:
Storm surge up to 13 ft (about 4 m) along the south coast of Jamaica, near/just east of where the eyewall makes landfall.
Very heavy rainfall: parts of Jamaica could see 15 to 30 inches (380–760 mm), and localized totals may reach 40 inches in vulnerable terrain, increasing risks of flash-flooding and landslides.
Major infrastructure strain: widespread power outages already reported (about 35% of Jamaica’s customers without power before full landfall) and significant risk to water, roads, buildings.
Death toll and casualties: At least 7 confirmed fatalities across Caribbean islands so far (three in Jamaica among them) with many more injured and missing.
🔮 What’s ahead
After Jamaica, Melissa is forecast to move toward eastern Cuba, then the Bahamas, and possibly impact Bermuda later in the week.
Even if weakening slightly over land, Melissa remains a major hurricane and still highly destructive when it hits Cuba and the Bahamas.
Because of its slow forward motion, the prolonged exposure means more rainfall, more flooding, more landslides — not just wind damage.
⚠️ Why this storm is historic
It is tied with some of the most intense Atlantic hurricanes on record (in terms of wind speed and central pressure) and is the strongest storm ever recorded to hit Jamaica in recorded history (~174 years).
Rapid intensification: The storm’s strength increased extremely quickly in the days before landfall.
Warming seas: Meteorologists suggest unusually warm ocean temperatures contributed to its extreme intensity.
📝 What to watch & what to do
If you are in or have friends/family in Jamaica, Cuba, the Bahamas or nearby islands: evacuate low-lying or flood-prone areas, follow local authorities, and avoid travel.
Expect power and communication outages; supplies (food, water, medicine) should be stocked early.
After the storm: Beware of downed power lines, unstable structures, landslides, flash flooding — especially in mountainous or deforested terrain.
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