Hurricane Melissa rapidly intensified into a fierce Category 5 storm by early Monday, prompting warnings from meteorologists about the potential for devastating flash flooding, landslides that could threaten lives, and gusty winds across the Caribbean.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center, based in Miami, has urged residents of Jamaica to take refuge in shelters and remain indoors as hazardous conditions are expected to unfold from Monday to Tuesday.
As Melissa approaches, it’s anticipated to hit Jamaican shores early Tuesday morning. Government representatives are scheduled to update the public at 11:30 a.m. on Monday.
By 5 a.m. ET, the storm was located approximately 130 miles southwest of Kingston, Jamaica’s capital, boasting sustained winds of 160 mph. This intensity places it at the highest tier on the Saffir-Simpson scale, with expectations for further intensification.
Marking the strongest storm to impact the area since Hurricane Gilbert in 1988, Melissa is predicted to unleash between 15 to 30 inches of rain on Jamaica. The National Hurricane Center warns of severe winds, significant damage to infrastructure, and life-threatening storm surges particularly along the southern coastline of Jamaica.
In certain eastern regions of Jamaica, forecasts suggest up to 40 inches of rain, an amount that surpasses the typical annual rainfall elsewhere in the country. Wind gusts in elevated terrains might exceed 200 mph, representing a potential increase of 30% above the general storm winds.
Desmond Mackenzie, Jamaica’s local government and community development minister, stressed on Sunday the alarming reality: numerous communities in Jamaica may not withstand the impending floods.
The devastation isn’t contained to Jamaica; Haiti and the Dominican Republic are bracing for similarly catastrophic flooding by Wednesday, the NHC remarked. Cuba is also forecasted to experience heavy rainfall, flooding, and landslides beginning Monday. Additionally, there’s a hurricane watch issued for the central and southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Thus far, the storm has resulted in at least four deaths—three in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic.
Despite facing some weakening effects nearing Jamaica, forecasts indicate that Melissa will still approach southeastern Cuba as a significant hurricane, continuing through the southeastern Bahamas and nearing Bermuda as a hurricane as well.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
