Hurricane Melissa Intensifies to Category 5, Approaches Jamaica with Catastrophic Threat
Hurricane Melissa has strengthened to a Category 5 storm, posing a severe threat to Jamaica with destructive winds, heavy rainfall, and life-threatening storm surges.
Hurricane Melissa has intensified into a Category 5 storm as it approaches Jamaica, with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 kph). The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecasts that Melissa will make landfall on Tuesday, bringing up to 40 inches (1 meter) of rain to parts of eastern Jamaica. The slow-moving storm is expected to cause catastrophic flash flooding, landslides, and a storm surge reaching 13 feet (4 meters) along Jamaica's southern coast.
The NHC has issued hurricane warnings for Jamaica and parts of eastern Cuba, with tropical storm warnings in effect for the southwestern peninsula of Haiti. Authorities in Jamaica have closed all airports and are urging residents to seek immediate shelter.
Melissa has already caused fatalities in Hispaniola, with three deaths reported in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic. The storm has damaged over 750 homes in the Dominican Republic, displacing more than 3,760 people and cutting access to 48 communities. In Haiti, significant crop destruction has exacerbated an existing food crisis affecting over half the population.
After impacting Jamaica, Melissa is expected to make landfall in eastern Cuba and continue across the Bahamas. Residents in these areas are advised to prepare for significant rainfall, storm surges, and potential damage in the coming days.
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