Forecasters have indicated that the remnants of Hurricane Melissa are expected to hit the UK in the coming days.
Melissa has caused numerous fatalities across the Caribbean in the last 48 hours and is currently on a path towards Bermuda. The Bermudian government has issued warnings for citizens to finalize their hurricane preparations, avoid traveling on roads, and stay indoors.
In Jamaica, where wind speeds exceeded 187mph recently, authorities are concerned about the accurate death toll estimation due to ongoing rescue operations amidst widespread flooding, blocked major routes, and extensive power outages.
Meteorologists predict that the storm’s remnants will impact weather patterns in Britain and northern Europe as they traverse the Atlantic.
A low-pressure system is anticipated to bring wet and windy conditions from the northwest by late Sunday, according to Tom Crabtree, the Deputy Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office. This weather event, though typical for autumn, is not expected to be severe.
Crabtree stated, “By late Sunday and early Monday, a low-pressure system carrying the remnants of ex-Hurricane Melissa is likely to move across the far northwest of the UK. This system is typical for the UK in autumn, introducing milder air and bringing periods of heavy rain, particularly over western hills. While there is some uncertainty in the exact path of this system at this stage, it is expected to bring unsettled weather for the following week.”
The UK government has arranged chartered flights to assist British nationals departing Jamaica post the impact of Hurricane Melissa. The Foreign Office advises British nationals to utilize commercial flights for their return journey.
Additionally, the UK government pledged £2.5 million in emergency humanitarian aid to support Jamaica, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressing deep concern over the distressing scenes in the country.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasized the UK’s commitment to facilitating the safe return of British nationals affected by the hurricane, with charter flights being organized to augment commercial services for swift repatriation.
Specialist Rapid Deployment Teams are en route to Jamaica to facilitate the flights and provide consular support.
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