Hurricane Melissa path: Tracking the devastating storm after landfall

Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday afternoon as a Category 5 hurricane — one of the most powerful hurricane landfalls on record in the Atlantic basin.

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

Here is Melissa’s projected path: 

Melissa is now a Category 3 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds decreased to 125 mph as it makes its approach to Cuba.

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

Melissa is expected to make another landfall over eastern Cuba overnight.

It is forecast to remain a major and powerful hurricane as it moves northeastward across Cuba from Tuesday night through Wednesday morning, then eventually weaken across the Bahamas to a Category 2 hurricane by Wednesday afternoon.

By Wednesday night, Melissa is forecast to be back over the open Atlantic before approaching Bermuda by Thursday evening as a possible Category 2 hurricane.

Melissa is bringing 15 inches to 30 inches of rain to Jamaica on Tuesday, with localized storm totals up to 40 inches.

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

These totals could result in life-threatening flash flooding with numerous landslides possible in Jamaica and Cuba from Tuesday through Wednesday.

There is the potential for significant storm surge up to 12 feet along the southeast coast of Cuba from Tuesday night into Wednesday, along with large and destructive waves.

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

The East Coast may experience rip currents, rough surf and some beach erosion this week as Melissa heads out to sea.