Caribbean Hurricane Network

Active Tropical Systems: None!
Atlantic Hurricane Season is from June 1 - November 30

GOES Satellite - Zoomed in on the Caribbean (23:40 UTC, 13 minutes ago)
Scale bar (lower right) is 250 miles. [more satellite imagery].
See storm-centered satellite image and loop in the tools section below (if available)

Sunday, December 28, 2025 08:57AM EST - Holidays

Good morning from frozen upstate NY!

I hope everyone had a Merry and Joyful Christmas. I want to wish all continued happy, safe and reflective holidays going forward though the New Year. I am in upstate NY until later tonight visiting family. I have shoveled snow and chipped ice several times for the first time in probably 30 years, however, I was born and raised here so I did not forget how to cope although a bit of "snow and temperature shock" after all this time not to mention living in jeans for a week was an experience.

Dave

Saturday, November 1, 2025 10:08AM EDT - The aftermath

Good morning,

It's obvious many thought we were going to get to the end of the 2025 hurricane season relatively unscathed but alas, that was not to be with the caged, in the Caribbean Cat 5 Hurricane Melissa, having to hit land somewhere to get out, finally deciding Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti, The Bahamas, and Turks/Caicos was the easiest way to escape. That turned out to be a very destructive and deadly decision. At least she is no more, now extra tropical and headed towards Greenland/Iceland as a powerful North Atlantic system after grazing Newfoundland overnight. Her name retirement, almost a certainty, will be another part of her grim legacy.

Now, the assessments and recovery efforts have begun. Disaster organizations have started to assist. Recovery for Jamaica, Haiti, and eastern Cuba will take years. While shelter, medical supplies, fuel and food are paramount, there is one more item that is more paramount. You cannot recover without power. To clear the debris, to rebuild the infrastructure. Roads, homes, businesses, the electrical grid. Without power, you cannot do any of these things as quickly as possible to start righting the ship.

Power. While most of the world is concentrating on Jamaica, Cuba too, is suffering. As it was, they were only receiving 3 hours of power a day due to an antiquated, decrepit electrical grid. After Melissa, there is no power and no telecommunications, including internet service. There has been little in the way of information coming out of Cuba which is part the Cuban government's fault but also the US Embargoes effects. Haiti, deforested and greatly suffering from gang violence and an inept government at least is sharing to the world what Melissa has done on top of all the rest.

Both Cuba and Haiti deserve to be treated the same as Jamaica as far as disaster relief is concerned. We are all Caribbean family and should be treated as such. There are reputable disaster relief organizations who have experience with all areas affected who are stretched to the limits of this immense disaster. I'm just saying all affected, even the Bahamas and Turks/Caicos if they need, deserve the same assistance, huge or small regardless of politics. This is a humanitarian crisis, not a political issue nor should "politricks" play a part in this crisis.

We are One Caribbean. We still have 29 days to go before the official end of this backloaded hurricane season. The models are still picking up on one, maybe 2 systems to eventually percolate in the SW Caribbean within the next 20 days. If so, where they would go is anyone's guess at this time. Nothing yet but something to be aware of.

Stay safe, vigilant and still prepared.

Dave.

Thursday, October 30, 2025 07:04AM EDT - Bye Melissa (Not soon enough)

Good morning,

They say a picture speaks a thousand words and sometimes volumes. The pictures and verified videos I've seen so far of Jamaica makes one speechless as there are no words that can speak as to the devastation inflicted by Melissa. For me, a stark reminder reminiscent of hurricane Irma in the USVI in 2017. Structural damage immense, landscape devoid of greenery, trees debarked and likely will die with no foliage and salt water exposure, plus the human toll inflicted reflects a natural war zone. Only thing you can do is prepare as there was no stopping the strongest storm on the planet this year nor any storm for that matter. My thoughts are with all areas affected.

Hurricane Melissa has now done her worst in Jamaica, Cuba and we do not know the scope of damage in the Bahamas and Turks & Caicos as she is now speeding up towards her date with Bermuda, now under a hurricane warning. Briskly moving at 21 mph and even strengthening while pulling away from the Bahamas, she is expected to pass just to the west of Bermuda approaching tonight with the strongest wind effects being felt overnight into Friday morning. Hurricane wind gusts are expected while Melissa expands her wind field on approach. A wobble to the east though and the odds of a more direct hit become problematic, especially with her trying to flirt with Cat 3 status again. Fortunately, she will be gone, headed towards Newfoundland, by Friday early eve.

As Gert shared from Dr. Masters, numerous records were tied or set with Melissa's buzzsaw track of destruction. It's almost a certainty, this name will be retired. It's almost a certainty, she will not be forgotten.

Looking behind, we still see some late season tropical waves headed towards the Caribbean from Africa with the hopes that they only bring beneficial rains, not flooding ones, as the dry season is around the corner after November.

Looking ahead, speaking of November, long term models are picking up a whiff of potential activity forming in the SW Caribbean off the Central American coastline.not once but twice between Nov. 5th-18th. This is an area, just like in the beginning of season, where development usually manifests itself. Shear should be moderate and there is untapped hot water, the fuel for tropical systems, available and deep which is why Melissa flourished for so long as a Cat 5. No cold water upwelling was to be had to tamp down continued development, even though she pretty much sat and spun for days. Usually, cold fronts coming into the Gulf of Mexico/America this time of year close that body off but this is a backloaded season. So, vigilance and staying prepared for a bit longer is still a necessity.

Stay safe, vigilant and prepared.

Dave.

Wednesday, October 29, 2025 08:45AM PDT - The Cone of Silence

And now we wait for news to come out of Jamaica. At first there will be a lot of rumors going around, so don't believe everything you hear point blank. Also, who knows, with AI, there might be fake videos going around. The eye of the storm went over the western part over the island. The eastern part (where Kingston is) should have made out better. Nevertheless, at landfall Melissa was a very strong Category 5 storm, with 185 mph sustained winds. According to Jeff Master's Eye in the Storm-blog this ties it for the strongest landfalling storm in the Atlantic (tied with the Labor Day Hurricane, Sep. 3, 1935: Florida Keys). Irma (Sep. 6, 2017: Barbuda, St. Martin, British Virgin Islands, 180 mph, 914-915 mb; also Sep. 9, northern Cuba, 165 mph, 924 mb) is 4th on the list. Maria 10th.

If you know of any good charities to donate to let me know. The World Food Progamme, which is working with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) and Jamaica's ODPEM should be a good one. Also, World Central Kitchen, Global Giving and Water Mission. Again, let me know if you know more and I will list them on the website. Hoping for the best... -Gert

- - - The eye of Hurricane Melissa approaching Jamaica at 9:48AM (Image credit: Eye on the Storm/NOAA/CIRA) - - -

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