Hurricane Melissa was forecast to hit Jamaica first, then move on toward southeastern Cuba and the Bahamas, with dangerous impacts spread well beyond the exact landfall point.

Main impact zones

  • The core of Hurricane Melissa was expected to make landfall along Jamaica’s southern coast , with some forecasts placing landfall near or just west of Kingston on a Tuesday morning.
  • After Jamaica, the projected track took Melissa across southeastern Cuba on Tuesday night, then over the southeastern or central Bahamas on Wednesday.
  • Forecasts stressed a cone of uncertainty , meaning destructive winds, storm surge, and flooding rains could affect areas outside the precise landfall point.

Severity and timing

  • Melissa intensified into a major hurricane , with some reports noting Category 4–5 strength as it approached Jamaica, bringing the risk of “catastrophic” winds and flooding.
  • Meteorological agencies warned of 15–30 inches (about 38–76 cm) of rain over Jamaica and parts of southern Hispaniola, raising the threat of flash flooding and landslides.
  • Because the storm was slow moving , forecasters highlighted that rainfall and damaging conditions could last many hours, worsening impacts in mountainous areas.

Safety notes

  • Anyone in or near the forecast path (Jamaica, eastern/southeastern Cuba, the Bahamas, and nearby Caribbean islands) should follow local emergency managers and official weather services for the latest track and evacuation guidance.
  • Storm track models are updated frequently; even small shifts can change who gets the worst surge, wind, and flooding, so real-time local updates are critical.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.