Hurricane Melissa is poised to cause extensive destruction this week as it moves across the Caribbean, with meteorologists closely monitoring the system generating powerful 175mph winds and even higher gusts.
The storm, which hit the Caribbean on Tuesday with a pressure level almost mirroring Hurricane Katrina, has tragically claimed the lives of seven individuals, according to authorities. Three fatalities occurred in Jamaica, three in Haiti, and one in the Dominican Republic, with one person currently missing in the latter.
Due to Melissa’s immense destructive potential, weather forecasters are vigilantly tracking its path as it is projected to make landfall in multiple nations today.
As per the latest data from the National Hurricane Centre (NHC), a US government agency, the hurricane was positioned this morning about 115 miles southwest of Kingston, Jamaica, and 290 miles off Guantanamo, Cuba. The forecast anticipates the storm reaching Jamaica’s southern coast in the coming hours.
Forecasts suggest that the storm will hit the island early, cutting diagonally from the south in St Elizabeth parish to the north in St Ann parish.
With landslides, fallen trees, and widespread power outages reported in advance of the storm, Jamaican officials cautioned that the cleanup and damage assessment process would be slow. A potentially life-threatening storm surge up to 13 feet is expected in southern Jamaica, raising concerns about the impact on coastal hospitals.
Health Minister Christopher Tufton mentioned that some patients were relocated as a precaution, while the NHC’s latest update warned of the impending “catastrophic” impact in Jamaica.
The NHC’s wind alert states that catastrophic hurricane-force winds are anticipated to begin this morning in Jamaica, with the possibility of total structural failure in certain elevated areas due to extreme wind speeds.
Melissa is forecasted to bring similarly catastrophic rainfall, with estimates ranging from 15 to 30 inches in parts of Jamaica and southern Hispaniola by Wednesday.
Additionally, a warning highlights the potential for rainfall between 15 to 30 inches in Jamaica and 6 to 12 inches in southern Hispaniola by Wednesday, with localized maximum totals of up to 40 inches, which could lead to catastrophic flash flooding and numerous landslides.
Eastern Cuba is also expected to experience heavy rainfall, with estimates of 10 to 20 inches and localized amounts up to 25 inches, heightening the risk of life-threatening flash floods and landslides until Wednesday.