Hurricane Melissa is poised to inflict significant destruction this week as it moves through the Caribbean, with meteorologists closely monitoring the system generating intense winds of up to 175mph and stronger gusts.
Having hit the Caribbean on Tuesday with a pressure level similar to that of Hurricane Katrina, the storm has tragically claimed the lives of seven individuals, as confirmed by authorities. Fatalities include three in Jamaica, three in Haiti, and one in the Dominican Republic, where one person is currently missing.
Due to the potential catastrophic impact of Melissa, weather experts are vigilant as the hurricane is projected to make landfall in several other countries today.
The latest data from the National Hurricane Center (NHC), a US government agency, indicates that Melissa was positioned approximately 115 miles southwest of Kingston, Jamaica, and 290 miles outside Guantanamo, Cuba this morning. The storm is forecasted to reach Jamaica’s southern coast in the coming hours.
Anticipated to make landfall early, Melissa is expected to traverse the island diagonally, entering near St Elizabeth parish in the south and exiting around St Ann parish in the north, according to forecasters.
As the storm approached, the government expressed readiness, cautioning about potential catastrophic damage. Prime Minister Andrew Holness warned that no infrastructure could withstand the storm’s conditions, emphasizing the challenge of recovery.
Reports of landslides, fallen trees, and widespread power outages preceded the storm, with Jamaican officials warning of a slow cleanup and damage assessment process. A life-threatening storm surge of up to 13 feet is expected in southern Jamaica, raising concerns about the impact on coastal hospitals.
Health Minister Christopher Tufton mentioned the relocation of patients to higher floors as a precaution. The NHC’s latest update highlighted the impending “catastrophic” impact of the storm in Jamaica.
The wind warning states that tropical storm conditions are already occurring in Jamaica, and catastrophic hurricane-force winds are expected imminently. Structural failure is likely within the eyewall, especially in elevated areas where wind speeds could be significantly stronger.
Melissa is predicted to bring intense rainfall, ranging from 15 to 30 inches in some parts of Jamaica and southern Hispaniola by Wednesday, as per the NHC.
A subsequent warning indicates that Melissa could result in rainfall of 15 to 30 inches in certain areas of Jamaica and an additional 6 to 12 inches in southern Hispaniola. Localized maximum rainfall of up to 40 inches is possible, leading to catastrophic flash flooding and numerous landslides.
For eastern Cuba, storm total rainfall of 10 to 20 inches is expected, with local amounts possibly reaching 25 inches by Wednesday, heightening the risk of life-threatening flash flooding and landslides.