Hurricane Melissa Strengthens, Threatens Jamaica and Nearby Areas
Tampa, Florida — Hurricane Melissa quickly intensified on Saturday, escalating from Category 2 to Category 4 by early Sunday, as reported by the National Hurricane Center.
The storm is currently moving slowly to the west at about 3 miles per hour and is positioned 110 miles south of Kingston, Jamaica, and 450 miles southwest of Guantanamo, Cuba. It is expected to maintain its westward trajectory until Sunday, after which it will shift to a north-northeast direction on Monday.
Forecast models indicate that Melissa will make landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday, traverse Cuba on Tuesday night, and then reach the southeastern Bahamas on Wednesday.
“Conditions in Jamaica are likely to deteriorate rapidly today,” noted Jamie Rome, deputy director at the center, adding, “Prepare to be self-sufficient for several days.”
Due to its slow movement, the hurricane is expected to bring substantial rainfall, with Jamaica and Hispaniola anticipating between 15 to 30 inches of rain. Eastern Cuba could also see 6 to 12 inches by Wednesday.
This heavy rain poses risks of life-threatening flash floods and landslides, in addition to dangerous storm surges along Jamaica’s southern coast, the NHC warned.
Melissa continues to gain strength and might reach Category 5 by Sunday night. Despite some minor changes, it is projected to strike Jamaica as a significant Category 4 hurricane.
A hurricane warning has been issued for Jamaica, while a hurricane watch is in effect for the southwestern peninsula of Haiti and several provinces in southeastern Cuba, including Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo, and Holguin.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center has indicated that the hurricane watch for Cuba may be upgraded to a warning later today.
Air Travel Disruptions and Evacuations
This unpredictable, slow-moving storm has already resulted in multiple fatalities in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
The Jamaican government announced the closure of Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay at noon on Sunday as part of the island’s national emergency agency’s activation of Level 3 protocols in anticipation of Melissa. Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston also closed on Saturday night.
Evan Thompson, Principal Director of the Jamaica Meteorological Service, cautioned, “This system is so slow-moving that it cannot recover. It will just sit there and dump rain. We need to be prepared for that.” Richard Thompson, acting director of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, stressed that “nowhere is safe from the fury of this hurricane.” He mentioned that the national response team is on high alert.
More than 650 evacuation centers have been set up across Jamaica, with officials reporting well-stocked warehouses and thousands of food packages primed for quick distribution if necessary.
Communities Severely Affected
In Haiti, three fatalities have been confirmed, and several injuries were reported due to a wall collapse. Authorities warned of rising river levels, flooding, and the destruction of bridges, especially in Sainte-Suzanne in the northeast.
Many residents in affected areas are hesitant to evacuate their homes, with nearly 200 homes reported damaged by the storm. The water supply system has been disrupted, impacting more than 500,000 customers. The storm has also downed trees and traffic lights, caused minor landslides, and left over 20 communities isolated due to flooding.
Melissa marks the 13th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has anticipated an above-average season with 13 to 18 named storms.
