An extremely powerful hurricane, the strongest in over three decades, is on track to make landfall in the Caribbean, specifically targeting Jamaica with devastating flooding.
Known as Hurricane Melissa, the storm has rapidly escalated to a Category 4 hurricane, boasting sustained winds of 145mph (230kph) and a westward movement at a speed of 5mph (7kph) by late Sunday (26 October) in the Caribbean Sea.
Forecasts indicate that Melissa is poised to escalate to Category 5 strength by Monday night, with wind speeds exceeding 157mph (250kph) as it changes course towards Jamaica in a northeast direction.
Expected to hit Jamaica by midday on Tuesday, Melissa is projected to bring winds of up to 160mph (257kph), potentially making it one of the most forceful hurricanes to strike the island nation in its history.
Prior to Melissa, the most severe hurricane to impact Jamaica was Hurricane Gilbert in 1988, with winds reaching 130mph.
The trajectory of Melissa is anticipated to take it close to or directly over Jamaica before traversing Cuba and reaching the southeastern Bahamas by Wednesday, according to the US National Hurricane Center.
Predictions suggest that Jamaica and southern Hispaniola, encompassing Haiti and the Dominican Republic, could face staggering amounts of rainfall, with projections indicating up to 30 inches (76 centimetres) for Jamaica and potentially up to 40 inches (1 metre) in certain regions.
As Jamaica prepares for the impending hurricane impact, a live video stream has been established on YouTube to monitor the situation, stationed in Kingston’s Jamaica Street, a prominent location featuring the iconic clock tower and bustling traffic.
You can view the stream here.
Jamaica is facing a triple threat from Hurricane Melissa, including excessive rainfall leading to floods, destructive winds, and perilous storm surges.
While the storm is anticipated to hit the island early on Tuesday, heavy rainfall has already commenced across Jamaica since Sunday.
Jamaican residents have been urged by the NHC to seek immediate shelter, as the storm is expected to bring catastrophic flash floods, landslides, and potentially devastating winds.
The persistent heavy rainfall over the next few days poses life-threatening risks and potential catastrophic consequences.
Meanwhile, Haiti is grappling with severe flooding and landslide hazards caused by Hurricane Melissa.
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