Hurricane Melissa now a Category 5. Here’s when the storm will impact Hilton Head & what to expect
11:30 a.m. update: In the latest briefing, the National Hurricane Center said that Melissa now has sustained winds of 165 mph. The storm is still expected to turn northward today and will move over Jamaica tonight through Tuesday morning.
Hurricane Melissa rapidly intensified into a Category 5 storm Monday morning, becoming one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes of the season as it churns through the western Caribbean.
According to the National Hurricane Center, Melissa’s maximum sustained winds have reached 160 mph and is moving west at only 3 mph.
As of Monday morning, the storm’s center was located about 135 miles southwest of Kingston, Jamaica.
The NHC expects a gradual turn to the northwest and north tonight before Melissa accelerates northeastward toward the Bahamas later this week.
The hurricane is expected to make landfall in Jamaica early Tuesday “as a powerful, major hurricane.”
Melissa is then expected to move across southeastern Cuba and the Bahamas through midweek and maintain hurricane strength as it moves over these areas.
The storm’s slow forward speed means Jamaica and eastern Cuba will face extended periods of destructive winds, torrential rainfall and catastrophic flooding. Storm surge along Jamaica’s southern coast could reach 9 to 13 feet, accompanied by destructive waves and widespread coastal flooding.
Impacts to Hilton Head
While the system is forecast to remain well offshore of the southeastern United States, dangerous rip currents and minor coastal flooding are likely along South Carolina beaches through midweek.
While the Hilton Head area will have a rainy start to the week, with showers expected until Wednesday, the National Weather Service in Charleston has issued a warning of dangerous rip currents along Hilton Head Island and nearby Georgia beaches through Monday evening.
In addition, forecasters say both coastal flooding and rip currents are a concern for the area through the week.
This story was originally published October 27, 2025 at 10:33 AM.
