The National Hurricane Center's forecast cone for Melissa for Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025.

(This story was updated to accurately reflect the most current information.)

Melissa intensified into a hurricane on Saturday, Oct. 25, as it continued its slow slog across the Caribbean Sea. Forecasters said the hurricane is expected to potentially power up to a Category 5 hurricane with winds up to 160 mph.

The storm hit 75 mph winds to attain hurricane status on Saturday afternoon, the National Hurricane Center said. A tropical storm becomes a hurricane when its winds reach 74 mph. Melissa is set to become a major hurricane before the end of the weekend.

According to Houston-based meteorologist Matt Lanza, "a damaging, severe hurricane with wide-ranging impacts in Haiti, Jamaica, and Cuba is likely."

The storm is not predicted to have any significant impact on the United States, forecasters said. However, rough surf, beach erosion, and some stormy conditions are expected along parts of the East Coast next week due to Melissa, as well as a coastal storm that is expected to develop, AccuWeather said.

News outlets have reported deaths in Haiti and the Dominican Republic have already been linked to impacts from Melissa.

Hurricane Melissa path tracker

This forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm. It does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts, and the center of the storm is likely to travel outside the cone up to 33% of the time.

Jamaica braces for impacts from Melissa

Evan Thompson, principal director of Jamaica's Meteorological Service said he anticipated the hurricane will be catastrophic when it makes landfall, likely on Tuesday, Oct. 28.

“We have not had this experience before,” Thompson said in a Saturday morning news briefing. “It’s important for us to consider this as an extraordinary situation.”

Jamaica hasn’t seen a hurricane of such magnitude hit the island in recorded history, said Thompson, of the country's meteorological service. He pointed to climate change fueling more rapid intensification of hurricanes.

Hurricane-force winds will begin hitting the island around Monday after around two days of storm-force winds. Parts of the island are also expected to see extreme rainfall of around 15-25 inches, an amount much more than people can even begin to imagine, he added. Storm surge in southern coastal areas could reach upwards of 8 feet.

Even after the hurricane passes over the island, emergency response and cleanup may be hampered for days afterward because of blocked roads, landslides, and floodwater, Thompson said.

Hurricane Melissa spaghetti models

Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center uses only the top four or five highest-performing models to help make its forecasts.

How do hurricanes form?

Hurricanes are born in the tropics, above warm water. Clusters of thunderstorms can develop over the ocean when water temperatures exceed 80 degrees. If conditions are right, the clusters swirl into a storm known as a tropical wave or tropical depression.

A tropical depression becomes a named tropical storm once its sustained wind speeds reach 39 mph. When its winds reach 74 mph, the storm officially becomes a hurricane.

Prepare now for hurricanes

Delaying potentially lifesaving preparations could mean waiting until it’s too late. "Get your disaster supplies while the shelves are still stocked, and get that insurance checkup early, as flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period," the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recommends.

  • Develop an evacuation plan. If you are at risk from hurricanes, you need an evacuation plan. Now is the time to begin planning where you would go and how you would get there.
  • Assemble disaster supplies. Whether you’re evacuating or sheltering in place, you’re going to need supplies not just to get through the storm but for a possibly lengthy aftermath, NOAA said.
  • Get an insurance checkup and document your possessions. Contact your insurance company or agent now and make sure you have enough insurance to repair or even replace your home and belongings. Remember, home and renters insurance don’t cover flooding, so you’ll need a separate policy for those. Flood insurance is available through your company, agent, or the National Flood Insurance Program.
  • Create a family communication plan. NOAA says you should take the time now to write down a hurricane plan and share it with your family. Determine family meeting places and make sure to include an out-of-town location in case of evacuation.
  • Strengthen your home. Now is the time to improve your home’s ability to withstand hurricanes. Trim trees and install storm shutters, accordion shutters, and impact glass. Seal outside wall openings.

Contributing: Julia Gomez and Gabe Hauari.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hurricane Melissa forecast to strengthen into Category 5 storm. See path.

Reporting by Doyle Rice, Mike Snider and Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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