Hurricane Melissa underwent rapid intensification, becoming a potentially devastating storm in the Caribbean overnight, as per U.S. forecasters’ early Sunday warning. The U.S. National Hurricane Center indicated Melissa had attained Category 4 status on the Saffir-Simpson wind scale with maximum sustained winds of 220 km/h.
Forecasts suggest Melissa will continue to strengthen during the day and is likely to hit Jamaica on Monday night or Tuesday morning, currently moving west at a pace of seven km/h and positioned approximately 195 kilometers southeast of Kingston, Jamaica.
A hurricane warning is in place for Jamaica, while hurricane watches have been declared for parts of Haiti’s southwestern peninsula and southeastern Cuba. The storm is projected to bring up to 1,000 millimeters of rainfall to Jamaica by Wednesday, with a similar forecast for southern Haiti and the Dominican Republic, where life-threatening flooding and landslides are anticipated.
Additionally, eastern Cuba could experience significant rainfall by early Wednesday, potentially reaching 30 centimeters in some areas. The slow and erratic storm has already claimed lives in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, with reports of fatalities and missing individuals.
Jamaican authorities have cautioned about impending airport closures and activated over 650 shelters across the island. Prime Minister Andrew Holness urged residents to prioritize safety measures. Haitian officials reported fatalities and injuries, along with infrastructure damages, emphasizing the storm’s worrying pace and impact.
The Dominican Republic has faced property damage, water supply disruptions, and community isolation due to the storm. The Bahamas Department of Meteorology warned of possible tropical storm or hurricane conditions in nearby islands. Melissa marks the 13th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, aligning with NOAA’s earlier predictions of an active season with 13 to 18 named storms.