Hurricane Melissa quickly strengthened to a Category 4 storm with winds of 140 mph. It may become a rare Category 5 overnight Sunday (October 26), according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC).
Jamaica is under a hurricane warning, while southern Haiti and parts of Cuba are on a hurricane watch. The center of the storm is about 120 miles south-southeast of Kingston. It moves slowly at 5 mph.
The NHC urged people in Jamaica to “seek shelter now”. Catastrophic flooding, mudslides and high winds are expected to continue into Monday night (October 27) and into Tuesday morning (October 28).
Torrential rains have already begun in Haiti, CNN reported. Life-threatening conditions are forecast to last for several days.
Jamaica is likely to face the brunt of Hurricane Melissa. Heavy rain, wind damage and storms are major risks.
Haiti faces severe flooding and the risk of landslides. Landing is expected late Monday or early Tuesday.
“I urge Jamaicans to take this weather threat seriously. Take all precautions to protect yourselves,” CNN quoted Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness as saying.
Hurricane Melissa continues to pose an extreme danger throughout the Caribbean. Jamaica, Haiti and the southern Dominican Republic are expected to face the worst effects of the storm by early next week. Eastern Cuba, southern Bahamas and Turks and Caicos will also face consequences.
The NHC warned of up to 40 inches of rainfall in southern Hispaniola and Jamaica. He also predicted 18 inches in eastern Cuba.
Hurricane Melissa is expected to cause severe flooding, road damage and isolated communities. Jamaica is expected to face not only torrential rains but also strong winds from Monday to Tuesday.
According to CNN, this will lead to power outages, downed trees and structural damage. Authorities have put all public hospitals in “emergency mode”. They canceled elective treatments to free up beds.
“Nowhere will escape the wrath of this hurricane. It’s going to sit there and dump water while barely moving, and that’s a significant challenge until what’s predicted happens,” Evan Thompson, chief director of the Jamaica Weather Service, said Oct. 25.
‘Stay Safe’
“In times of emergency, every second counts. Save these contact numbers from the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), your first point of contact in any disaster situation,” Prime Minister Holness wrote on Twitter (now X).
“Be prepared. Stay safe,” he added.
