A dangerous hurricane heading towards Jamaica and Cuba has gained strength and may escalate to Category 5, the most severe level, before hitting the area tonight or early Tuesday, as per meteorologists’ caution. The US National Hurricane Centre (NHC) anticipates that Hurricane Melissa will cause severe flooding, landslides, and storm surges in the region. Jamaican authorities are advising residents to evacuate to any of the 900 shelters set up across the island.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness has issued mandatory evacuation orders for Port Royal in Kingston and six other regions on Sunday night. With sustained winds reaching up to 140mph (220kph), Storm Melissa is projected to intensify further as it nears Jamaica.
Minister of Local Government, Desmond McKenzie, expressed concerns about the potential devastating impact of flooding on vulnerable communities in Kingston, emphasizing the city’s susceptibility to floods. Both international airports are currently shut down.
The slow-moving storm has already resulted in at least three casualties in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic, with another person reported missing. The NHC warns that Melissa could bring rainfall ranging from 15 to 30 inches to Jamaica and southern Hispaniola, with some areas experiencing over 40 inches of rainfall.
Eastern Cuba is expected to receive between 10 to 15 inches of rainfall, with localized amounts up to 20 inches. Officials are cautioning about extensive damage to infrastructure, power failures, communication disruptions, and isolation of numerous communities in Jamaica.
Jamaica’s Information Minister, Dana Morris Dixon, mentioned that the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency stands ready to provide assistance, with several international partners already offering their support. She highlighted the unprecedented rainfall forecasts, emphasizing the need for preparedness.
AccuWeather’s lead hurricane expert, Alex DaSilva, highlighted the looming threat of torrential rainfall, flash floods, power outages, and road closures across Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Jamaica. The impacts of Hurricane Melissa could be disastrous, according to DaSilva.
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