Hurricane Melissa, the most powerful storm this year, is on the verge of hitting Jamaica, as per the National Hurricane Center’s latest update.
This Category 5 hurricane, packing sustained winds of 175mph, is currently lashing the Caribbean island with flash floods and storm surges, as reported by the US agency. Although still some distance away, Melissa is rapidly approaching, with its eye expected to reach the land by midday local time (5pm GMT). Meteorologists are warning that Melissa could potentially be the most severe hurricane to ever strike Jamaica, bringing with it up to 30 inches of rainfall and 175mph winds.
The Met Office has issued alerts suggesting that Hurricane Melissa might impact the weather in the UK. A spokesperson informed Yahoo News UK that the storm is likely to lose its tropical features in the North Atlantic and fade away as a separate system later this week.
As Hurricane Melissa continues its destructive path, it is projected to head towards eastern Cuba on Tuesday evening (12pm GMT), prompting the evacuation of over 500,000 individuals from vulnerable areas facing flood risks and extreme winds.
Subsequently, Melissa is forecasted to progress towards the Bahamas by Wednesday at around 7pm local time (12pm GMT), having weakened to a Category 2 storm by then.
Tragically, Melissa has already claimed lives in Jamaica, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies estimates that up to 1.5 million people in Jamaica could be affected, including around 25,000 tourists presently on the island.
With predictions indicating that Melissa will make landfall as a Category 5 storm and then de-escalate to a Category 4 while traversing the island, experts are issuing grave warnings. Michael Brennan, the director of the US National Hurricane Center in Miami, cautioned of the potential for “total building failures” and wind gusts up to 200mph in Jamaica’s highest mountains. Additionally, Prime Minister Andrew Holness of Jamaica emphasized the lack of infrastructure capable of withstanding the impending conditions.
The intensification of Caribbean hurricanes, exacerbated by the climate crisis, has been under scrutiny. Researchers at Climate Central highlighted that Melissa underwent rapid strengthening due to lingering over ocean waters 1.4C warmer than usual, conditions made significantly more likely by climate change.
Named Melissa in accordance with the US National Hurricane Center and the World Meteorological Organization’s naming protocol for tropical storms, this hurricane’s trajectory is expected to veer towards the North Atlantic, brushing past Canada’s easternmost point.
In light of the potential devastation, Jamaican authorities and residents are bracing for the impact of Hurricane Melissa, emphasizing the urgency of preparedness and safety measures.