The Cuba Tourist Board has confirmed the temporary closure of airports in Santiago de Cuba and Holguín on Tuesday and Wednesday (Oct. 28-29) as Hurricane Melissa – a category 5 storm that has tied for the strongest on earth in 2025 – approaches the island tonight and into Wednesday.
Melissa was forecast to make landfall Jamaica earlier in the day (Tuesday) with forecasters warning it would unleash catastrophic flooding, landslides and widespread damage. It is expected to be the strongest hurricane to hit the island since record-keeping began in 1851.
Cuba
In Cuba, authorities scrambled to implement organizational measures to safeguard tourists, staff, and facilities in the eastern part of the country ahead of the storm.
Among them closing the airports with affected passengers advised to contact their travel agent or airline for updated flight information.
“The safety of our clients is paramount,” said Gihana Galindo, Director of the Cuba Tourist Board. “Cuba is experienced in dealing with natural disasters, and we have an immediate organizational structure in place to respond to this climatological event. Our internationally recognized Civil Defense is coordinating all necessary human and material resources to protect the population and infrastructure.”
The hurricane is forecast to pass through the southeastern part of Cuba, affecting the provinces of Guantanamo, Santiago de Cuba, Granma and Holguín on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.
Up to 51 cm (20 inches) of rain are forecast for parts of Cuba, along with a significant storm surge along the coast.
All other popular tourist destinations, including Jardines del Rey (Cayo Coco, Cayo Guillermo, Cayo Paredon, and Cayo Cruz), Varadero, Cayo Santa María, Cayo Largo del Sur, Cienfuegos, and Trinidad, are operating normally, said the tourist board.
Jamaica
In Jamaica, a storm surge of up to 4 metres is expected along the coast in Kingston, which is home to critical infrastructure such as Jamaica’s main international airport and power plants.
“This can become a true humanitarian crisis very quickly, and there is likely going to be the need for a lot of international support,” said Jonathan Porter, chief meteorologist at AccuWeather.
Some areas in eastern Jamaica could see up to 1 metre (40 inches) of rain. Mandatory evacuations were ordered in seven flood-prone communities in Jamaica, with buses ferrying people to safe shelter.
On Monday, the hurricane had maximum sustained winds of 270 kph (165 mph) as it approached the island.
Evan Thompson, principal director at Jamaica’s meteorological service, warned that cleanup and damage assessment would be severely delayed because of anticipated landslides, flooding and blocked roads.
A storm of Category 4 or higher has not made landfall in Jamaica in recent history, Thompson said. Hurricane Gilbert was a Category 3 storm when it hit the island in 1988. Hurricanes Ivan and Beryl were both Category 4, but they did not make landfall.
The life-threatening storm surge was expected along Jamaica’s southern coast, near and to the east of where Melissa is likely to make landfall.
“Don’t make foolish decisions,” warned Daryl Vaz, Jamaica’s transport minister. “We are in a very, very serious time over the next few days.”
A hit on Hispaniola
The storm already has dropped heavy rain on the Dominican Republic, where schools and government offices were ordered to remain closed on Monday in four of nine provinces still under red alert.
Melissa damaged more than 750 homes across the country and displaced more than 3,760 people. Floodwaters also have cut access to at least 48 communities, officials said.
In neighbouring Haiti, the storm destroyed crops in three regions, including 15 hectares of maize at a time when at least 5.7 million people, more than half of the country’s population, are experiencing crisis levels of hunger.
“Flooding is obstructing access to farmland and markets, jeopardizing harvests and the winter agricultural season,” the U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization said.
Bahamas/ Turks and Caicos
A hurricane watch is in effect for the southeastern and central Bahamas and for the Turks and Caicos Islands.
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