Atlantic Fury Unleashed
Hurricane Melissa Explodes Into Category 3 Monster With 125 MPH Winds
Hurricane Melissa has strengthened into a major Category 3 hurricane with 125 mph winds, the National Hurricane Center reports. The storm, now east of Bermuda, is fueling life-threatening surf and rip currents along the U.S. East Coast. No landfall expected, but conditions remain dangerous.
Hurricane Melissa strengthened into a major Category 3 hurricane late Saturday, with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (205 km/h), according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
Key Details (as of the latest NHC advisory):
Location: Approximately 620 miles east-southeast of Bermuda.
Movement: Northwest at 12 mph (19 km/h).
Status: Major hurricane (Category 3+ on the Saffir-Simpson scale).
Forecast: Expected to turn northward, then northeast, passing well east of Bermuda early next week. No direct land threats at this time.
Strengthening: Rapid intensification occurred over the weekend due to warm ocean waters and low wind shear.
Impacts:Swells from Melissa are expected to affect Bermuda and parts of the U.S. East Coast by mid-week, causing life-threatening surf and rip currents.
No coastal watches or warnings are in effect.
Background:
Melissa is the 13th named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season and the fifth major hurricane (Category 3 or higher). It formed from a tropical wave off Africa earlier in the week and intensified rapidly in the central Atlantic.
NHC Statement (Saturday night): "Melissa has become a major hurricane... Additional strengthening is possible before it begins to weaken over cooler waters early next week."
The storm is not expected to make landfall, but mariners and coastal residents from Florida to New England should monitor updates due to dangerous ocean conditions.