Weakened Hurricane Melissa Makes Landfall in Cuba After Devastating Jamaica
A downgraded Hurricane Melissa has made landfall in Cuba, bringing heavy rainfall, destructive winds, and widespread power outages after leaving a trail of devastation across Jamaica, which authorities have already declared a disaster area.
According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC), Melissa once classified as an “extremely dangerous” Category 5 hurricane weakened to a Category 3 storm before striking Santiago de Cuba province early Wednesday.
The hurricane hit Cuba’s southern coast with maximum sustained winds of about 120 miles per hour (195 kilometers per hour), accompanied by torrential rains and life-threatening storm surges.
The NHC reported that Melissa fluctuated between Category 3 and Category 5 intensity as it moved across the Caribbean Sea, battering several islands along its path.
“Melissa made landfall as a strong Category 3 hurricane, but its impacts remain severe,” the NHC said in its latest advisory. “Residents in eastern Cuba should remain on alert for flash flooding and landslides due to intense rainfall.”
Ahead of the storm’s arrival, Cuban authorities declared a state of alert across six eastern provinces, including Santiago de Cuba, Granma, Guantánamo, Holguín, Las Tunas, and Camagüey.
Thousands of residents evacuated coastal communities, while emergency shelters were opened in schools and government buildings.
State media reported that power lines and roads were heavily damaged, and communication disruptions were widespread as strong winds tore through the region. Early images from Santiago de Cuba showed fallen trees, flooded streets, and damaged rooftops.
Meanwhile, in Jamaica, where Melissa made landfall earlier this week as a powerful Category 4 storm, recovery efforts are underway amid widespread destruction.
The Jamaican government has declared a national disaster, citing severe flooding, collapsed bridges, and extensive damage to homes and infrastructure. At least 15 deaths have been reported, while hundreds remain displaced.
Caribbean emergency agencies have urged caution as the storm continues its path northwest, warning that heavy rains and flash floods could extend into the Bahamas and southern Florida in the coming days, even as Melissa continues to weaken.
Cuba’s civil defense authorities have called on residents to remain indoors until conditions improve and have begun assessing the full extent of the damage.
Meteorologists say Melissa’s strength and erratic behavior reflect the growing intensity of Atlantic hurricanes amid rising ocean temperatures linked to climate change, which scientists warn could make storms of this magnitude increasingly common in the region.
