Weather Updates

           By Scarlett. R. 7th Grade Journalist

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According to CNN, Hurricane Melissa is one of the biggest and most powerful hurricane to hit in over 150 years as the second strongest hurricane to hit the Atlantic since 1851. According to ‘AccuWeather’, Massive downpours of rain and wind unleashed into Jamaica, Cuba, and the Bahamas at least 30 deaths have been recorded so far through the catastrophic event on October 23 2025.

The hurricane headed towards Bermuda and emergency officials in countries along Melissa’s path have begun to pick up the pieces clearing roads to reach isolated communities in need of relief. The storm dramatically intensified, jumping from a 70 mph wind storm to a 140 mph wind storm in just a day (CNN). 

Overnight from October 25 2025 to October 26 2025, it crossed east Cuba, being declared as a category 3 hurricane, by the time it hit Santiago De Cuba. By the time the hurricane made it to the Bahamas it had downgraded from a category 5 in Jamaica to a category 3 in Cuba to a category 1 in the Bahamas (CNN). 

More than 735,000 people were evacuated in Cuba, 1,485 evacuations in the Bahamas sending out messages to over six islands.  Around 140,000 were cut off as the storm plummeted into the island according to the government. A CNN crew went out to observe the tragedy and there were over a dozen ambulances past storm debris in the town of Santa Cruz as the medical convoy headed to a coastal area in western Jamaica, and around 77% of the country is left without power. 

We are fortunate to live where we are because we don't have to deal with something as catastrophic as a category 5 hurricane.