A menacing hurricane is barreling towards Jamaica and Cuba, rapidly gaining strength and projected to escalate to a Category 5 storm before hitting land either tonight or early Tuesday, as per forecasts. The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) anticipates that Hurricane Melissa will bring devastating floods, landslides, and storm surges to the area, prompting Jamaican authorities to advise evacuation to one of the 900 shelters set up across the island.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness has issued mandatory evacuation orders for Port Royal in Kingston and six other regions on Sunday night, with the storm currently boasting maximum sustained winds of up to 140mph (220kph) and expected to intensify further as it nears Jamaica.
Minister of Local Government, Desmond McKenzie, expressed concerns stating that many communities are at risk from the flooding, especially in low-lying areas like Kingston. Both international airports have been shut down due to the approaching storm, which has already caused casualties in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, with further risks looming.
Forecasts suggest Jamaica and southern Hispaniola could experience between 38cm (15 inches) and 76cm (30 inches) of rainfall, potentially exceeding one meter (40 inches) in certain spots. Eastern Cuba is also expected to receive heavy rainfall, ranging from 25cm (10 inches) to 38cm (15 inches), with local amounts up to 51cm (20 inches).
Authorities are cautioning about extensive damage to infrastructure, power outages, communication disruptions, and potential isolation of communities in Jamaica. Dana Morris Dixon, Jamaica’s Information Minister, mentioned that the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency stands ready to provide aid, with international partners already pledging support in anticipation of the looming crisis.
Alex DaSilva, AccuWeather’s lead hurricane expert, highlighted the imminent threats posed by Hurricane Melissa, emphasizing the need for preparedness across the region for possible catastrophic consequences like torrential rainfall, flash floods, power failures, and road damages.
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