Melissa roars toward Cuba at Category 4
Hurricane Melissa escalated to Category 4 strength on Tuesday as it accelerated across Caribbean waters toward eastern Cuba. The National Hurricane Center confirmed the storm’s intensification after spending several hours over Jamaica, where land contact temporarily weakened its power to Category 3 from the previous Category 5 designation.
The hurricane center warned that Melissa will maintain dangerous force as it travels through Cuba, the Bahamas and approaches Bermuda. Weather officials issued their latest advisory late Tuesday evening about the storm’s projected path.
The system regained Category 4 status after departing Jamaican territory and moving back over open ocean. Forecasters continue monitoring the hurricane’s trajectory as it threatens multiple island nations and territories across the Atlantic region.
