Hurricane Melissa Skirts Bermuda, Weakening Today
Key points
- Melissa passed northwest of Bermuda overnight with hurricane-force gusts possible
- NHC says the storm is moving away and should become extratropical later today, October 31
- Bermuda closed L.F. Wade International Airport at 6:00 p.m. on October 30 as a precaution
- Airlines issued waivers for Bermuda and Jamaica with flexible rebooking windows
- Damage and recovery efforts continue in Jamaica, Haiti, and eastern Cuba after earlier landfalls
Impact
- Expect Some Residual Flight Disruptions
- Morning operations may be limited until airport and airline safety checks conclude
- Check Your Airline App
- Use carrier apps for same-day reaccommodation or fee-free changes under active waivers
- Ferry And School Services
- Government curtailed some services during the warning period, watch official channels for reopen timing
- Cruise Calls
- Ships may adjust itineraries around Bermuda and the Bahamas, monitor line notifications
- Weather Window
- Conditions should steadily improve through Friday as Melissa exits and transitions
Hurricane Melissa passed to the northwest of Bermuda overnight and is now moving away from the island. The National Hurricane Center reports Melissa should transition into an extratropical cyclone later on Friday, October 31, ending the period of peak wind and rain impacts for Bermuda. Precautionary closures were enacted on Thursday, including L.F. Wade International Airport at 6:00 p.m., with authorities targeting reopening once inspections are complete. Travelers should expect rolling delays as airlines reset schedules.
Bermuda's Position And Overnight Conditions
Government briefings on Thursday indicated a Hurricane Warning for the island and outlined system-wide precautions, including school and transport adjustments. The official Emergency Measures Organisation met repeatedly to coordinate response, while local media tracked the storm's closest approach, roughly 90-110 nautical miles to the northwest near 1:00 a.m. Friday.
Latest Developments
As of the 5:00 a.m. AST advisory on Friday, the NHC stated "Melissa moving quickly away from Bermuda" and "expected to become an extratropical cyclone later today," signaling a tapering of hazardous conditions. That aligns with local plans to assess airport and infrastructure for staged reopening.
Airlines activated flexible policies earlier in the week; for example, Delta lists waivers for Bermuda, Jamaica, Providenciales and other affected points. Expect similar policies across other U.S. carriers and check your specific itinerary.
Regional Context
The exit near Bermuda follows Melissa's catastrophic impacts farther south. The storm struck Jamaica earlier in the week with Category 5 winds, then impacted eastern Cuba and parts of Haiti and the Bahamas. Credible tallies now place the death toll in the dozens as recovery begins, underscoring the storm's severity even as Bermuda's risk recedes.
Analysis
For travelers, the main question is timing. With Melissa accelerating away and undergoing extratropical transition, Bermuda's weather should improve through the day. However, operators still need daylight inspections, crew repositioning, and airspace flow programs before normal schedules return. If you are ticketed today, plan for potential delays and gate changes, and use airline mobile apps for alerts, same-day rebooking, or standby options under active waivers. If you are connecting via the U.S. East Coast this weekend, watch for residual weather bands from Melissa's post-tropical evolution in the Northwest Atlantic.
Final thoughts Hurricane Melissa's direct threat to Bermuda has passed. Expect improving conditions and a cautious restart of air and sea operations as authorities finish safety checks and airlines work through disrupted rotations. Keep notifications on and confirm your flight status before heading to the airport.
Sources