Hurricane Melissa Skirts Bermuda, Power Work Underway

Published on Oct 31, 2025, 9:32 am CDTUpdated on Oct 31, 2025, 9:36 am CDT

4 min read

Key points

Melissa passed Bermuda overnight with hurricane-force gusts and is moving away, transitioning to extratropical later today
More than 19,000 customers lost electricity at the peak, and BELCO crews began islandwide restoration this morning
L.F. Wade International Airport closed Thursday evening; reopening depends on post-storm assessments with updates expected today
Government's Emergency Measures Organisation met repeatedly this week and issued a Hurricane Warning as the storm neared
Travelers should monitor airline messages and local advisories as services resume in phases

Impact

Flights: Expect rolling schedule adjustments until L.F. Wade International Airport confirms reopening
Power: Plan for intermittent outages while BELCO restores circuits in priority order
Roads: Leave extra time for debris and cleanup affecting surface travel
Ferries & Buses: Check service status as transport resumes in stages
When To Travel: If flexible, favor departures after authorities complete midday assessments

Hurricane Melissa passed just northwest of Bermuda late Thursday into early Friday, bringing hurricane-force gusts, heavy rain, and overnight power cuts. By Friday morning, October 31, the National Hurricane Center reported the storm was racing away from the island and was expected to become an extratropical cyclone later in the day. A Hurricane Warning had been in effect as officials closed facilities and urged residents and visitors to shelter in place.

Bermuda's posture and advisories

Bermuda's Emergency Measures Organisation convened multiple times this week, escalating preparations as Melissa drew near. Government updates on Wednesday and Thursday stressed readiness measures and signaled that closures, including public services and transport, could be enacted as conditions warranted.

As the core passed northwest of the island overnight, the Bermuda Weather Service and EMO maintained the Hurricane Warning. Early Friday, the National Hurricane Center said Melissa was quickly pulling away and would transition to a non-tropical system later today, which typically lowers the chance of severe tropical impacts but can still produce strong winds and swell.

Power and utilities

Electric outages peaked overnight. The Royal Gazette reported more than 19,000 homes without electricity early Friday, and BELCO confirmed restoration crews were deployed across the island. The utility asked the public to stay clear of work areas and treat all downed lines as energized while repairs proceed systematically.

BELCO had warned Thursday that outage counts would likely rise toward midnight as winds increased. That forecast aligned with Friday's restoration push, which will continue circuit by circuit based on safety and grid design. Travelers should be prepared for intermittent cuts even as the majority of customers are reconnected.

Airport, ferries, and ground transport

As a safety precaution, L.F. Wade International Airport (BDA) suspended operations at 6:00 p.m. Thursday. Operator Skyport indicated reopening could come Friday pending daytime inspections and a post-storm assessment, with travelers advised to follow airline rebooking and status messages. Government updates reiterated that some government offices would delay opening and that transport services could resume in phases once conditions allowed.

If you are booked to depart today, expect rolling delays or aircraft swaps while airlines reposition crews and conduct inspections. Build extra time for debris-related slowdowns between lodging and the terminal, and verify ferry and bus status before setting out, as services typically restart in stages after all-clear notices.

Wider regional picture

Melissa's closest approach to Bermuda followed a destructive track across the northern Caribbean earlier this week, with Jamaica and Haiti suffering the heaviest toll. As of Friday morning, multiple outlets placed the regional death count in the dozens while clean-up and humanitarian operations ramp up. While these figures do not change the immediate risk profile in Bermuda, they underscore the severity of conditions near the hurricane's core earlier in the week and the importance of heeding local advisories.

Background

A Hurricane Warning signals that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. For Bermuda, which sits alone in the western Atlantic, even glancing passes can drive dangerous gusts and swell. After closest approach, storms often undergo extratropical transition as they accelerate into cooler waters, but strong gradient winds and rough seas can persist for a period, which keeps marine and aviation operations conservative until inspections are complete.

Final thoughts

With Melissa moving away, Bermuda's focus today is on safe, orderly restoration and confirming when airport and transport operations can resume. Travelers should keep monitoring airline messages, the government's EMO channels, and BELCO status pages until midday assessments are complete and services stabilize.