Hurricane Melissa underwent rapid intensification, becoming a potentially catastrophic storm in the Caribbean overnight, as warned by U.S. forecasters on Sunday. The U.S. National Hurricane Centre indicated that Melissa had reached Category 4 status on the Saffir-Simpson wind scale with maximum sustained winds of 220 km/h.
Forecasts from the Miami-based agency suggest that Melissa will strengthen further throughout the day and is likely to hit Jamaica by Monday night or early Tuesday. The storm, currently moving west at a speed of seven km/h, was positioned about 195 kilometres southeast of Kingston, Jamaica on Saturday night.
A hurricane warning is in place for Jamaica, with hurricane watches issued for parts of Haiti’s southwest and southeast Cuba. The storm is expected to bring heavy rainfall, with projections of up to 1,000 millimetres of rain in Jamaica by Wednesday.
Similar forecasts have been made for southern Haiti and the Dominican Republic, with potential life-threatening flooding and landslides. Eastern Cuba is also expected to be affected by the storm, with up to 30 centimetres of rainfall in certain areas by early Wednesday.
The slow-moving nature of the storm has already claimed lives in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, with concerns raised about its projected path. Jamaican authorities have taken precautionary measures, including closing airports upon the issuance of a hurricane warning and activating over 650 shelters.
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness urged citizens to heed the weather warnings seriously and take necessary precautions. The U.S. National Hurricane Centre highlighted the potential risks associated with Melissa, emphasizing the need for preparedness against damaging winds, heavy rainfall, flooding, landslides, and power outages.
In Haiti, the storm has resulted in casualties, injuries, and infrastructure damage, prompting authorities to provide aid and relief efforts. The Dominican Republic has witnessed property damage and disruptions in essential services due to Melissa’s impact.
Further concerns have been raised for the Bahamas, as the storm could bring hazardous conditions to several islands in the region. Melissa marks the 13th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, aligning with earlier predictions of an above-average season by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
