Alert #25 on Hurricane Melissa issued by The Bahamas Department of Meteorology at 6 PM EDT, Wednesday, October 29^th, 2025.   

…MELISSA STARTING TO ACCELERATE NORTHEASTWARD OVER THE BAHAMAS…

…DAMAGING WINDS, HEAVY RAINS, SEVERE FLOODING, AND DANGEROUS STORM SURGE CONTINUING IN THE BAHAMAS THROUGH TONIGHT…

… THE CORE OF MELISSA IS PASSING OVER THE CROOKED ISLAND PASSAGE …

… TROPICAL STORM AND HURRICANE CONDITIONS OCCURRING   IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS, WHILE TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS SPREAD INTO THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS…

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 5 PM EDT, the eye of Hurricane Melissa was located near Latitude 22.9 degrees North and Longitude 74.8 degrees West, or about, 4 miles Northeast of  South Long Island, 6o miles Northwest of Salina Point, Acklins, 30  miles West of Landrail Point, Crooked Island, 180 miles Northwest of Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 65 miles West Southwest of Samana Cay, 55 miles South of Port Nelson, Rum Cay, 75 miles South-Southwest of Cockburn Town, San Salvador, 215 miles Southeast of New Providence.

Hurricane Melissa is moving toward the northeast near 16 miles per hour. An accelerating northeastward motion is expected during the next few days. On the forecast track, the core of Melissa is expected to move across the Southeast or Central Bahamas this evening.  

Maximum sustained winds are now near 90 miles per hour with higher gusts. Hurricane Melissa is a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Some restrengthening is possible tonight into tomorrow with weakening beginning thereafter.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles from the center, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 185 miles. A private weather station at Pitts Town on Crooked Island recently reported sustained winds of 69 miles per hour and a gust of 82 miles per hour.

Tropical Storm and hurricane conditions continue to occur in the Central and Southeast Bahamas, while tropical storm conditions spread into the Turks and Caicos Islands. Residents are now experiencing sustained winds and gusts up to tropical storm and hurricane strength, heavy rainfall, and severe thunderstorms. These conditions will continue this evening and into tonight. Tornadic activity is highly probable in these areas.

The core of Melissa is passing over the Crooked Island Passage. As a result, Ragged Island, Acklins, Crooked Island, South Long Island, Rum Cay, Samana Cay, and San Salvador are experiencing hurricane-force winds. 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.

Impacts:

Hurricane Melissa brought 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. The islands receiving 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 through Thursday morning, 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 4 to 7 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 9 PM.

Issued by: Mary Butler