Hurricane Melissa’s Path: Tracking the Devastating Storm After Landfall

Hurricane Melissa It made landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday afternoon as a Category 5 hurricane, one of the most powerful hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic basin.

Over the course of Tuesday, the storm was first downgraded to a Category 4 and then a Category 3 hurricane after making landfall in Jamaica.

Here is Melissa’s projected path:

Melissa is now a Category 3 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds reduced to 125 mph as it approaches Cuba.

Catastrophic winds, flash floods and storm surges continued to hit parts of Jamaica, which should be prepared for extensive infrastructure damage and long-lasting power outages.

Melissa is expected to make landfall again in eastern Cuba overnight.

It is forecast to remain a major and powerful hurricane as it moves northeast across Cuba Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, eventually weakening across the Bahamas to a Category 2 hurricane on Wednesday afternoon.

On Wednesday night, Melissa is forecast to return to the open Atlantic before approaching Bermuda on Thursday night as a possible Category 2 hurricane.

Melissa will bring between 15 and 30 inches of rain to Jamaica on Tuesday, with localized storms totaling up to 40 inches.

Up to 25 inches of rain is possible in Cuba and up to 10 inches in the Bahamas.

These totals could lead to life-threatening flash flooding and possible numerous landslides in Jamaica and Cuba from Tuesday to Wednesday.

There is a potential for significant storm surges of up to 12 feet along the southeastern coast of Cuba Tuesday night through Wednesday, along with large, destructive waves.

Storm surge in the southeastern Bahamas could reach up to 8 feet on Wednesday.

The east coast may experience rip currents, strong surf and some beach erosion this week as Melissa heads out to sea.