ALERT #23 ON HURRICANE MELISSA issued by The Bahamas Department of Meteorology at 12 NOON EDT, Wednesday, October 29th, 2025.
...MELISSA NOW OFFSHORE OF EAST CUBA IN THE SOUTHEASTERN ATLANTIC…
…DAMAGING WINDS, HEAVY RAINS, AND FLOODING CONTINUE FOR CUBA, AND THE BAHAMAS…
… DANGEROUS STORM SURGE EXPECTED IN THE BAHAMAS TODAY…
… TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS SPREADING INTO THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS, AND THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS; HURRICANE FORCE WINDS AND THE CORE OF MELISSA IS EXPECTED TO MOVE NEAR OR ACROSS THE CROOKED ISLAND PASSAGE THIS AFTERNOON.
…THE ISLANDS SET TO RECEIVE THE STRONGEST IMPACT ARE: RAGGED ISLAND, LONG ISLAND, ACKLINS, CROOKED ISLAND, LONG CAY, SAMANA CAY, RUM CAY, AND SAN SALVADOR…
A Hurricane Warning remains in effect for the Central and Southeast Bahamas. This includes Exuma and its Cays, Ragged Island, Rum Cay, Long Island, San Salvador, Cat Island, Acklins, Crooked Island, Long Cay, Mayaguana, and Inagua.
A Hurricane Warning means that Hurricane conditions are expected in the mentioned islands within 36 hours.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the Turks and Caicos Islands.
A Tropical Storm Warning means that Tropical Storm conditions are expected in the mentioned islands within 36 hours.
At 11 AM EDT, the eye of Hurricane Melissa was located near Latitude 21.4 degrees North and Longitude 75.6 degrees West, or about 50 miles South- Southeast of Duncan Town, Ragged Island, 110 miles South-Southwest of South Long Island, 100 miles Southwest of Salina Point, Acklins, 130 miles Northwest of Matthew Town, Inagua, 220 miles West-Southwest of Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 185 miles South-Southwest of Abraham’s Bay, Mayaguana, and 275 miles South-Southeast of New Providence.
Hurricane Melissa is moving toward the northeast near 14 miles per hour. A faster northeastward motion is expected during the next few days. On the forecast track, the core of Melissa is expected to move offshore Eastern Cuba this morning, and move across the Southeast or Central Bahamas today.
Maximum sustained winds are now near 100 miles per hour with higher gusts. Hurricane Melissa is a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Some slight strengthening is possible today into tomorrow with little change in strength thereafter.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 40 miles from the center, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 185 miles.
Tropical Storm conditions are spreading into the Central and Southeast Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Residents are now experiencing sustained winds or gusts up to tropical storm strength, heavy rainfall, and severe thunderstorms. These conditions will continue throughout today and into tonight. Tornadic activity is highly probable in these areas.
Hurricane Melissa, should it remain on the forecast track, its core is expected to pass near or over the Crooked Island Passage. As a result, Ragged Island, Acklins, Crooked Island, South Long Island, Rum Cay, Samana Cay, and San Salvador are expected to experience hurricane-force winds this afternoon. All other islands within the warning area are expected to experience tropical-storm force winds with gusts up to hurricane force.
Residents should remain indoors until the tropical storm and hurricane-force winds subside tonight and tomorrow morning.
Potential Impacts:
Hurricane Melissa will bring extended periods of violent winds, heavy rain, and widespread inland and coastal flooding, along with hazardous sea conditions, to the islands in the Central and Southeast Bahamas, as well as the Turks and Caicos Islands, today and tonight. The islands expected to experience the strongest impact are Ragged Island, Long Island, Acklins, Crooked Island, Long Cay, Samana Cay, Rum Cay, and San Salvador. However, the extent of the impact depends on Melissa's strength as it moves through the Central and Southeast Bahamas.
Rainfall Amount:
A total rainfall of 5 to 10 inches is expected over the Southeast Bahamas today, resulting in severe flooding in the islands. Expected rainfall totals for the Turks and Caicos Islands are approximately 1 to 3 inches.
Storm Surge:
A storm surge of 5 to 8 feet above normally dry ground is possible in the Southeast Bahamas, and minor coastal flooding is possible in the Turks and Caicos Islands today.
The next Alert on Hurricane Melissa will be issued at 3 PM.
Issued by: Mary Butler
