Hurricane Melissa Heads Toward Cuba After Ravaging Jamaica

Hurricane Melissa is barreling toward Cuba after tearing through Jamaica as the most powerful storm to strike the Caribbean nation in modern history.

Once a Category 5 system with winds exceeding 185 mph (295 km/h), Melissa has now weakened to Category 3 intensity, packing sustained winds of 125 mph (205 km/h), according to the US National Hurricane Center.

The storm left a trail of destruction across Jamaica, where authorities warned of “catastrophic flooding” and urged residents to remain in shelters.

Some areas could see up to 30 inches (76 cm) of rain.

“The winds are so strong you would not be able to stand up,” a resident told media, while another said, “Water is coming through my roof — I am not OK.”

As Melissa tracks northwest, Cuba braces for impact.

The island is expected to receive up to 25 inches of rainfall, with officials calling on residents to “seek safe shelter immediately.”

In the Bahamas, where the storm is forecast to arrive within hours, authorities have warned that “preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.”

Meteorologists caution that while the storm has weakened, its size and rain intensity remain a serious threat to lives and infrastructure across the northern Caribbean. Agencies