Hurricane Melissa Could Be Strongest to Strike Jamaica Since Gilbert
Jamaica remains under a Hurricane Warning as Hurricane Melissa intensified into a Category 4 system while moving northwest through the Caribbean Sea on Sunday, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
Early Sunday advisories confirmed that hurricane-force conditions are anticipated across the island, while the southwestern peninsula of Haiti and southeastern Cuba remain under a Hurricane Watch, meaning those areas could also experience severe impacts.
Rapid strengthening has continued, with satellite observations showing maximum sustained winds of about 140 mph (220 km/h) and even stronger gusts. The NHC cautioned that further intensification is expected overnight, followed by potential fluctuations in strength.
Forecast models indicate that Melissa will strike Jamaica as a major hurricane late Monday or early Tuesday, before crossing southeastern Cuba later on Tuesday.
Communities across Jamaica and parts of Haiti are being warned of catastrophic rainfall, destructive winds, and a dangerous storm surge lasting through Tuesday. The NHC bulletin outlined expectations of severe infrastructure damage, long-term power and communication losses, and possible isolation of some areas.
Meteorologists also cautioned that Melissa may strengthen into a Category 5 storm, packing sustained winds of up to 160 mph, before its expected landfall. If that occurs, it could become the most powerful hurricane to hit Jamaica since 1988’s Category 4 Hurricane Gilbert.
Heavy rainfall remains a major concern, with 15 to 30 inches expected across sections of southern Hispaniola and Jamaica, and isolated areas receiving as much as 40 inches. The NHC warned that catastrophic flash floods and landslides are likely in these regions.
The system is projected to move over southeastern Cuba on Tuesday night before pushing across the southeastern Bahamas by Wednesday, maintaining its dangerous intensity throughout the early part of the week.
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