Residents in Jamaica are preparing for Hurricane Melissa, which is expected to bring strong winds and significant flooding to the island. The storm was classified as a category five hurricane by the US-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) on Monday. Authorities have expressed concerns that Hurricane Melissa, which has already caused four fatalities in Hispaniola, may become the most powerful hurricane to impact Jamaica.
The Jamaican government has mandated evacuations in parts of the capital, Kingston, and has designated the entire island as “threatened.” As of the latest NHC update, Hurricane Melissa was located approximately 135 miles (220 km) southwest of Kingston. The hurricane is producing maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) and could intensify further in the next 12 to 24 hours.
Forecasts indicate that the hurricane is anticipated to make landfall near or over Jamaica during the night and into Tuesday, continuing across southeastern Cuba by Tuesday night and passing over the Bahamas on Wednesday. With a slow movement, the storm poses a risk of heavy rainfall, with projections suggesting up to 40 inches (100 cm) could fall in parts of Jamaica over the next four days.
Officials are urging residents in vulnerable areas to seek shelter in safer locations. Jamaica’s Minister of Local Government has reported that all 881 shelters on the island are open. In addition to the anticipated impact on Jamaica, Haiti has already experienced severe flooding due to Hurricane Melissa, leading to three confirmed deaths, while one fatality occurred in the Dominican Republic. Reports also indicate that a 13-year-old is missing after being swept away by strong currents.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2dr0z57nygo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss