Jamaica is bracing for the impact of Hurricane Melissa, a powerful storm described as one of the most intense to hit the region in over three decades. The hurricane, which has escalated to a Category 4 with sustained winds of 145mph and a westward trajectory at 5mph, is expected to strengthen to a Category 5 by Monday night. This upgrade would bring winds exceeding 157mph as it changes course towards Jamaica.
Forecasts predict that by midday Tuesday, Melissa will make landfall in Jamaica with wind speeds reaching up to 160mph, potentially making it one of the strongest hurricanes in the country’s history. The last hurricane of comparable strength to hit Jamaica was Hurricane Gilbert in 1988, with winds of 130mph.
The US National Hurricane Center projects that Melissa will pass over Jamaica before moving on to Cuba and the southeastern Bahamas by Wednesday. The storm is expected to unleash heavy rainfall, with estimates of up to 30 inches in Jamaica and southern Hispaniola. Some areas could receive as much as 40 inches of rain.
As preparations are made for the approaching hurricane, a live stream video has been established on YouTube to monitor the situation in Kingston, Jamaica. The stream provides views of the iconic clock tower and bustling traffic in one of the city’s popular locations.
You can watch the live stream here.
Jamaica faces multiple threats from Hurricane Melissa, including extreme rainfall, damaging winds, and dangerous storm surges. The storm’s impact is expected to intensify as it nears landfall, with heavy rain already affecting the region since Sunday. Residents are urged to seek shelter immediately to avoid the impending catastrophic flash flooding, landslides, and devastating winds expected to arrive on Monday night and Tuesday morning.
The risk of life-threatening conditions persists as heavy rainfall is forecasted to persist for several days. Meanwhile, Haiti continues to grapple with the aftermath of Melissa’s destructive flooding and landslide dangers.
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