KINGSTON, Jamaica, Oct 29, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Hurricane Melissa has strengthened to a Category 4 storm as it picks up speed over the Caribbean sea and approaches eastern Cuba, the US National Hurricane Center said late Tuesday.

The storm took hours to cross over Jamaica, a passage over land that diminished its winds, dropping down to a Category 3 -- from the maximum level 5 -- before ramping back up to Category 4.

"Melissa is expected to remain a powerful hurricane when it moves across Cuba, the Bahamas, and near Bermuda," the NHC said in its latest advisory.