Hurricane Melissa Could Be Jamaica’s Strongest Storm On Record

Jamaica is bracing for nan astir powerful hurricane successful its modern history arsenic Hurricane Melissa – now a high-end Category 4 large wind – barrels slow toward nan island.

The US National Hurricane Centre (NHC) warned connected Saturday, October 25, that Melissa “could beryllium nan strongest nonstop landfall for nan land since tropical cyclone grounds keeping has been made successful nan Atlantic Basin.”

The storm, packing sustained winds adjacent 140 mph (225 km/h), is moving westward astatine a crawl. Landfall is forecast for precocious Monday into Tuesday (October 27-28), pinch nan imaginable to concisely fortify to Category 5.

Catastrophic flooding and landslides expected crossed Jamaica

The NHC projects 15–30 inches (380–760 mm) of rainfall crossed nan island, pinch isolated totals of up to 40 inches (1 m) successful mountainous areas – levels that could unleash life-threatening flash flooding and landslides.

“With these tremendous winds that a Category 4 hurricane could nutrient that will push nan h2o of nan oversea onto nan shoreline and pinch it takes houses and communities perchance backmost into nan sea,” said Evan Thompson, Principal Director, Jamaica Meteorological Service, via Jamaica Observer.

The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) has been activated pinch much than 650 emergency shelters opened nationwide.

• Norman Manley and Sangster International Airports are closed.
• Curfews and carrier restrictions are successful effect crossed respective parishes.
• Emergency teams stay connected precocious alert, pinch ODPEM urging residents to “heed each charismatic warnings.”

Although Jamaica lies wrong nan hurricane belt, nonstop landfalls are rare. Meteorologist Jeff Masters told nan Washington Post that Melissa’s slow mobility and aggravated rainfall could nutrient “a worst-case scenario…”

Haiti and nan Dominican Republic besides connected alert owed to Hurricane Melissa

The NOAA warns that Melissa will besides effect Haiti and nan Dominican Republic, wherever astatine slightest 4 deaths person already been reported. Heavy rainfall and landslides are expected done mid-week, apt cutting disconnected communities successful mountainous terrain.

Hurricane watches are besides successful spot for south-western Haiti and eastbound Cuba, pinch forecasts showing nan strategy search toward nan confederate Bahamas later this week.

For charismatic updates, sojourn nan NHC Hurricane Melissa page.

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