Canadian travellers warned as Hurricane Melissa heads to Bermuda
Canada has updated its travel advisory for Bermuda due to Hurricane Melissa, warning Canadians of potential safety risks.
As Hurricane Melissa continues to batter the region, on Oct. 29, the Government of Canada elevated the travel advisory for Bermuda to level orange, urging Canadians to “avoid non-essential travel.”
“Hurricane Melissa is expected to impact Bermuda on or around Oct. 30, 2025,” reads the update. “The storm is likely to bring excessive rainfall and violent winds.”
Canadian travellers are being warned that the hurricane could cause flash flooding and disrupt access to essential services, such as power supply, transportation, telecommunications networks, and emergency services.
Hurricane season affects the Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico each year from June to the end of November. A NOAA bulletin states that a hurricane warning is currently in effect for Bermuda.
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“In Bermuda, preparations should be underway and be completed before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous,” it reads.
It also states that the core of Melissa is expected to pass near or to the west of Bermuda late Thursday and Thursday night.
According to CNN, the hurricane hit Jamaica on Tuesday, severely damaging infrastructure and leaving many without power.
Canadians who are in Bermuda are urged to be cautious and to monitor local news and weather reports.
“Follow the instructions of local authorities,” states the advisory.
According to the Bermuda Tourism Authority, the archipelago has seen a 34 per cent increase in visitors from Canada compared to 2024. A 2022 statement on Canada-Bermuda relations also notes that between 3,000 to 3,500 Canadians live in Bermuda.
Hurricane Melissa had also triggered travel advisories for other destinations such as the Bahamas, Cuba, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Canadians travelling internationally can sign up for the Registration of Canadians Abroad (ROCA), a free and confidential service that notifies citizens outside the country of an emergency abroad or a personal emergency at home.