Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center say Hurricane Melissa has strengthened as it continues to pull away from the Bahamas and remains on track to move toward Bermuda days after the deadly storm tore across the Caribbean. FOX Weather Meteorologists Britta Merwin and Craig Herrera break down the latest forecast on Oct. 30, 2025.
KINGSTON, Jamaica – The death toll in the wake of Hurricane Melissa continues to rise after the catastrophic and historic hurricane tore paths of destruction across the Caribbean, making destructive landfalls in both Jamaica and Cuba over the past few days.
Communications remain unreliable across many areas after the storm damaged critical infrastructure, but reports of fatalities are starting to climb.
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TOPSHOT – A car drives through the a destroyed neighborood following the passage of Hurricane Melissa, in Black River, Jamaica on October 29, 2025. Hurricane Melissa bore down on the Bahamas October 29 after cutting a path of destruction through the Caribbean, leaving 30 people dead or missing in Haiti and parts of Jamaica and Cuba in ruins. Somewhat weakened but still threatening, Melissa will bring damaging winds and flooding rains to the Bahamas Wednesday before moving on to Bermuda late Thursday, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC). (Photo by Ricardo MAKYN / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images)
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An aerial view of damaged buildings around the St. John’s Anglican Church following the passage of Hurricane Melissa, in Black River, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica on October 29, 2025. Hurricane Melissa bore down on the Bahamas October 29 after cutting a path of destruction through the Caribbean, leaving 30 people dead or missing in Haiti and parts of Jamaica and Cuba in ruins. Somewhat weakened but still threatening, Melissa will bring damaging winds and flooding rains to the Bahamas Wednesday before moving on to Bermuda late Thursday, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC). (Photo by Ricardo MAKYN / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images)
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TOPSHOT – Electrical poles are down as a man bikes through the destroyed neighborood of North Street following the passage of Hurricane Melissa, in Black River, Jamaica on October 29, 2025. Hurricane Melissa bore down on the Bahamas October 29 after cutting a path of destruction through the Caribbean, leaving 30 people dead or missing in Haiti and parts of Jamaica and Cuba in ruins. Somewhat weakened but still threatening, Melissa will bring damaging winds and flooding rains to the Bahamas Wednesday before moving on to Bermuda late Thursday, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC). (Photo by Ricardo MAKYN / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images)
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Remains of the Black River Market are seen following the passage of Hurricane Melissa, in Black River, Jamaica on October 29, 2025. Hurricane Melissa bore down on the Bahamas October 29 after cutting a path of destruction through the Caribbean, leaving 30 people dead or missing in Haiti and parts of Jamaica and Cuba in ruins. Somewhat weakened but still threatening, Melissa will bring damaging winds and flooding rains to the Bahamas Wednesday before moving on to Bermuda late Thursday, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC). (Photo by Ricardo MAKYN / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images)
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An aerial view of the destroyed Black River Market following the passage of Hurricane Melissa, in Black River, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica on October 29, 2025. Hurricane Melissa bore down on the Bahamas October 29 after cutting a path of destruction through the Caribbean, leaving 30 people dead or missing in Haiti and parts of Jamaica and Cuba in ruins. Somewhat weakened but still threatening, Melissa will bring damaging winds and flooding rains to the Bahamas Wednesday before moving on to Bermuda late Thursday, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC). (Photo by Ricardo MAKYN / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images)
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An aerial view of destroyed buildings following the passage of Hurricane Melissa, in Black River, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica on October 29, 2025. Hurricane Melissa bore down on the Bahamas October 29 after cutting a path of destruction through the Caribbean, leaving 30 people dead or missing in Haiti and parts of Jamaica and Cuba in ruins. Somewhat weakened but still threatening, Melissa will bring damaging winds and flooding rains to the Bahamas Wednesday before moving on to Bermuda late Thursday, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC). (Photo by Ricardo MAKYN / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images)
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This screen grab from an aerial video shows damaged buildings and structures in St. Elizabeth Parish, Jamaica, on October 29, 2025, after Hurricane Melissa tore through the island. Hurricane Melissa ripped up trees and knocked out power after making landfall in Jamaica on October 28, 2025 as one of the most powerful hurricanes on record, inundating the island nation with rains that threaten flash floods and landslides. (Photo by AFP VIDEOGRAPHICS / AFP) (Photo by AFP VIDEOGRAPHICS/AFP via Getty Images)
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This screen grab from an aerial video shows damaged buildings and structures in St. Elizabeth Parish, Jamaica, on October 29, 2025, after Hurricane Melissa tore through the island. Hurricane Melissa ripped up trees and knocked out power after making landfall in Jamaica on October 28, 2025 as one of the most powerful hurricanes on record, inundating the island nation with rains that threaten flash floods and landslides. (Photo by AFP VIDEOGRAPHICS / AFP) (Photo by AFP VIDEOGRAPHICS/AFP via Getty Images)
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According to reports, the mayor of Petit-Grove in southern Haiti said at least 25 people were killed after a flooded river overflowed its banks and sent water rushing into communities. Three other deaths were also announced by local officials.
In Jamaica, three people were killed while preparing for Hurricane Melissa’s impacts last week. However, the Minister of Local Government and Community Development said at least four people were confirmed dead in St. Elizabeth Parish due to direct impacts by Hurricane Melissa.
“I’m saddened to announce that four persons – three men and one woman – have been confirmed dead by the police in St. Elizabeth,” Minister Desmond McKenzie said in a statement. “They were discovered after being washed up by the flood waters generated by the hurricane.”
McKenzie said all indications showed that these were “direct victims of the hurricane” and hopes there will be no additional deaths.
At least one death was also reported in the Dominican Republic as Hurricane Melissa moved close to Hispaniola last weekend.
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Jamaica residents plead for help as Hurricane Melissa recovery operations continue
FOX Weather Correspondent Robert Ray is in the heart of a devastated Montego Bay, Jamaica showing residents struggling to cope with their homes and neighborhoods in ruins after Hurricane Melissa.
Ferocious winds and flooding rain lashed Jamaica before, during and after the hurricane, and as millions of residents across the island emerge from their shelters to get a better look at the devastation, it has become clear that many parishes in Jamaica need help.
FOX Weather Correspondent Robert Ray has been on the ground in Jamaica since before the storm made its historic landfall on the island and has been speaking with residents in areas where the destruction is unimaginable.
Ray was in Catherine Hall in Montego Bay along the country’s northwestern coast on Wednesday and provided a firsthand look at what the storm did to the region.
Mud lines the streets as dazed residents trudge through the thick slurry to look to see what’s left of their homes and to try and locate loved ones who haven’t been seen or heard from since the storm.
“Three children I rescued last night,” one woman told Ray. “Their parents just flung them over the wall to me.”
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Hurricane Melissa damage in Montego Bay, Jamaica, on Oct. 29, 2025, a day after landfall.
(FOX Weather)
She told Ray that the water was rising fast as Hurricane Melissa was ravaging the area, and their parents would rather them be safe while they stay in the floodwaters.
“I took the kids in there in my house now,” she said. “I don’t know where the parents are.”
She said those children she helped to rescue are safe.
And supplies are running out – fast.
As Ray was looking at the damage, another woman said they desperately needed food and water.
“That’s one of the biggest things,” she said. “If we can get some food and water right now, because we don’t know what’s going to happen. We don’t have running water. It’s crazy.”
Airports to resume operations allowing for relief flights to land
Ahead of Hurricane Melissa’s catastrophic landfall, the government of Jamaica told its residents to gather supplies and prepare for the monster storm’s onslaught.
And while residents were preparing for impact, so, too, were government officials. Teams were on standby and resources were prepositioned across Jamaica, and officials closed the island’s airports and seaports ahead of landfall.
Travel to and from the island was halted.
Damage at the Montego Bay Airport after Hurricane Melissa on Oct. 29, 2025.
(Daryl Vaz / FOX Weather)
As the record-breaking hurricane sliced across Jamaica, its winds proved to be too much for some airports to handle, and significant damage was reported.
Jamaica’s Minister of Energy, Telecommunications and Transport, the Hon. Daryl Vaz, said that while no significant damage was reported at Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, the same couldn’t be said for Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay.
Major damage had been reported at some gates while others received minimal damage and would require less repair work to function properly.
Damage at the Montego Bay Airport after Hurricane Melissa on Oct. 29, 2025.
(Daryl Vaz / FOX Weather)
Vaz announced on X that the first relief flight was set to land at Norman Manley International Airport around 4 p.m. local time on Wednesday, with the first commercial flight expected to land on Thursday morning.
Commercial flights were also expected to resume at Ian Flemming International Airport on Thursday morning.
However, since the situation at Sangster International Airport is more fluid, only relief flights are expected to commence on Thursday, while there’s no known time at which commercial flights would resume.
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