Waves splash in Kingston, Jamaica, as Hurricane Melissa approaches. (AP Photo)Jamaica is already feeling the deadly effects of the approaching Hurricane Melissa, with authorities confirming three storm-related deaths even before the storm makes landfall. The island’s Ministry of Health and Wellness said on Monday evening that the fatalities occurred “in preparation” for the storm. At least seven people have died and over 10 others were injured in Haiti, Dominican Republic and Jamaica amid storm’s impact as strengthening Melissa has rapidly intensified into a Category 5 hurricane with 175 mph winds and the US National Hurricane Center expects it to make landfall in Jamaica early on Tuesday. This is likely to cause a catastrophic flooding and torrential rain in the northern Caribbean, including Jamaica and Haiti. The centre of the hurricane is located 125 miles south of Kingston, Jamaica as the storm moves westward.
Tracking Melissa: The US forecasters have said that Melissa is expected to move near or over Jamaica as a major hurricane early on Tuesday, thereafter it’ll reach Cuba on Tuesday night, and the hurricane would then head across the southeastern Bahamas on Wednesday. Hurricane Melissa is expected to drop rains of up to 30 inches on Jamaica and southern Hispaniola, including Haiti and the Dominican Republic, according to the hurricane centre.
Airports closed, shelters activated: Two of the major airports in Jamaica, the Norman Manley International Airport and the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, were closed by Sunday amid the strongest hurricane on record to make landfall in the Caribbean nation. An evacuation was ordered in the seaside community of Old Harbour Bay in the southern parish of St Catherine by local officials on Sunday. A Jamaican government representative said more than 650 shelters in the country are open.
After wreaking havoc in Jamaica with a sustained wind speed of 185 mph, the Hurricane Melissa is now moving north-northeast at about 8 mph, and the eye of the hurricane is expected to reach southeastern Cuba around or just after midnight local time on Wednesday, CNN reported.
The Category 5 hurricane that hit Jamaica has weakened and it would make a landfall in Cuba as either a Category 4 or a high-end Category 3 storm.
The Jamaican government called for foreign aid as it prepared for the fallout of the strongest-ever storm to directly strike its shores.
Meteorologists at AccuWeather said Melissa was the third most intense hurricane observed in the Caribbean after Wilma in 2005 and Gilbert in 1988 - the last major storm to make landfall in Jamaica.
"It's a catastrophic situation," the World Meteorological Organization's tropical cyclone specialist Anne-Claire Fontan told a press briefing, warning of storm surges up to four meters high. "For Jamaica, it will be the storm of the century for sure."
- Reuters
Hurricane Melissa, which has battered Jamaica with devastating floods, structural damages and communication snap, is now a Category 3 hurricane and is sustaining a wind speed of 125 mph and is moving north-northeast at 8 mph through the Caribbean Sea, according to the latest advisory from the US National Hurricane Center in Miami.
The hurricane is centered around 50 miles east-northeast of Montego Bay, Jamaica and is now heading towards eastern Cuba, about 160 miles southwest of Guantánamo, AP reported.
Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness has said that Hurricane Melissa could cause "devastating impacts" on the Caribbean island, where the eye of the hurricane hit the island.
In a statement to CNN, Jamaica PM said, "Reports that we have had so far would include damage to hospitals, significant damage to residential property, housing and commercial property as well."
Hurricane Melissa, which struck Jamaica with record-tying 185 mph winds Tuesday, was a beast that stood out as extreme even in a record number of monster storms spawned over the last decade in a superheated Atlantic Ocean.
Melissa somehow shook off at least three different meteorological conditions that normally weaken major hurricanes and was still gaining power as it hit, scientists said, a bit amazed.
And while more storms these days are undergoing rapid intensification — gaining 35 mph in wind speed over 24 hours — Melissa did a lot more than that. It achieved what's called extreme rapid intensification — gaining at least 58 mph over 24 hours. In fact, Melissa turbocharged by about 70 mph during a 24-hour period last week, and had an unusual second round of rapid intensification that spun it up to 175 mph, scientists said. (AP)
According to National Hurricane Center’s latest inputs, Melissa is now a Category 3 hurricane and it is sustaining a wind speed of 125 mph.
In some respite for Jamaicans, Hurricane Melissa is now slowly pulling away from the Caribbean island but it is now heading toward eastern Cuba where the situation is expected “to deteriorate rapidly over the next several hours,” the advisory said.
After the Category 5 Hurricane Melissa made landfall in the Caribbean, it has caused widespread devastation and damages and Jamaica's minister Desmond McKenzie has said that though his government remains proactive in its planning, it one of the worst experiences the country has ever had.
In reference to Hurricane Charlie in 1951 and Hurricane Gilbert in 1988, McKenzie said, "This is one of the worst experiences that we have ever encountered," BBC reported.
Melissa was expected to make landfall in eastern Cuba late Tuesday or early Wednesday. Up to 20 inches (51 centimeters) of rain was forecast in areas, along with a significant storm surge along the coast.
In a televised address to the nation Tuesday, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel urged the population to not underestimate the power of the storm, “the strongest ever to hit national territory.”
In the eastern province of Santiago de Cuba, people streamed into the home of 83-year-old Eduviges Figueroa at the foot of the Sierra Maestra mountains to seek shelter after fleeing their homes in remote areas by bus, truck and even horse-drawn carts. (AP)
About 15,000 Jamaicans are residing in the emergency shelters across the country as the island was struck by Category 5 Hurricane Melissa on Tuesday, and it continues to wreck havoc in the Caribbean, Jamaica’s Minister for Local Government Desmond McKenzie said.
“It is safe to say that our shelters have seen increased numbers. We also noticed that there are communities where residents have gone and have created makeshift shelters," McKenzie said during a press briefing, CNN reported.
On Tuesday evening, Melissa had top sustained winds of 145 mph (230 kph) and was moving north-northeast at 8 mph (13 kph) as its center moved into the Caribbean Sea, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami. The hurricane was centered about 15 miles (20 kilometers) east of Montego Bay, Jamaica, and about 200 miles (325 kilometers) southwest of Guantánamo, Cuba.
Its 185 mph (295 kph) winds and 892 millibars of central pressure tied two records for the strongest Atlantic storm at landfall. The pressure — the key measurement meteorologists use — tied 1935’s Labor Day hurricane in Florida. The wind speed tied the 1935 hurricane and 2019’s Hurricane Dorian, said hurricane scientists Phil Klotzbach of Colorado State University and Brian McNoldy of the University of Miami.
- AP
After season's most powerful earthquake, Hurricane Melissa, made landfall in the Caribbean island, parish of St. Elizabeth in Jamaica's southwest is "underwater" and sustained extensive damage due to the Category 5 storm, Jamaica’s Minister for Local Government Desmond McKenzie said.
Informing about the impact Hurricane Melissa had in the country, minister McKenzie added that in the town of Santa Cruz, a fire station was reported to have been “flooded out because of excessive flood waters.”
The US Department of State has issued a warning to American travelers in the path of Hurricane Melissa, advising them to depart immediately if possible or take necessary precautions to shelter in place.
"If you’re in an area projected to be in the storm's path, depart ASAP if still possible. Americans who decide to remain should make preparations to shelter in place," the department stated in a social media notice.
Citizens in the affected areas are also encouraged to register with the Smart Traveler Enrollment platform to receive important safety and security updates from US embassies. (BBC)
Hurricane Melissa has left a trail of destruction in Jamaica, with heavy flooding, destroyed buildings, and blocked roads reported in the southwest of the island, according to The Associated Press.
The storm, which made landfall as a Category 5 hurricane, has so far been attributed to seven deaths in the Caribbean, with three killed in Jamaica, three in Haiti, and one in the Dominican Republic.
The Jamaican government has set up a website, Support Jamaica, to collect donations for the recovery efforts following Hurricane Melissa's devastating landfall.
The country's Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (Odpem) aims to raise funds for food, shelter, and medical aid for residents displaced or affected by the storm, which is expected to be one of the worst natural disasters to hit the Caribbean island. (The Guardian)
Hurricane Melissa has made landfall in Jamaica as a Category 5 storm, bringing catastrophic winds and rain to the island, according to the US National Hurricane Centre in Miami.
The centre warned of an "extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation" and advised those in the area not to leave their shelter as the eye of the storm passes over. "Melissa was one of the most powerful hurricane landfalls on record in the Atlantic basin," the centre said in a post on X.
Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday as a category five hurricane, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in its latest advisory.
It was one of the most powerful hurricane landfalls on record in the Atlantic basin, the NHC added. (Reuters)
Hurricane Melissa, a slow-moving Category 5 storm, is expected to make landfall in Jamaica within hours, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) has warned.
According to the NHC, the hurricane is currently about 55 miles (90 km) from the island and continues to intensify. “An Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft has found that Melissa is strengthening with maximum sustained winds of 180 mph (290 kph),” the agency said in a post on X.
Authorities have urged residents to remain indoors and not leave shelters as the storm’s eyewall approaches. “Winds will rapidly increase within the eyewall of Melissa. Remain in place through the passage of these life-threatening conditions,” the NHC said.
Hurricane Melissa threatens to affect as many as 1.5 million people in Jamaica, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has warned, describing the potential damage as “massive.”
“1.5 million people may be impacted,” said Necephor Mghendi, the IFRC’s head of delegation for the English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean, in comments to AFP. He cautioned that the figure could still be “an underestimate,” underscoring the scale of the storm’s threat.
After passing Jamaica, Hurricane Melissa is expected to make landfall in eastern Cuba later today. Tropical storm conditions are also forecast to reach Haiti by this evening, while the Bahamas are bracing for hurricane-force winds on Wednesday, with the Turks and Caicos Islands expected to experience tropical storm conditions around the same time.
Landfall in Jamaica is expected later today, with catastrophic and life-threatening hurricane-force winds likely to begin affecting the island later today.
Rainfall totals are projected to reach between 15 and 30 inches, accompanied by a storm surge of up to 13 feet along the southern coastline, producing large, destructive waves, reported BBC. On the north-west coast near Montego Bay, storm surges could reach between 2 and 4 feet. Widespread flooding and landslides are anticipated.
In Haiti, tropical storm conditions are forecast to develop later today, bringing 6 to 12 inches of rainfall.
As the system continues its slow northward path, it will bring further heavy rain before making another landfall in southeastern Cuba, still maintaining its strength as a major hurricane.
Swells generated by Hurricane Melissa are expected to impact Hispaniola, Jamaica, eastern Cuba, and the Cayman Islands over the next few days, creating life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. These hazardous swells are also expected to reach the Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and Bermuda later in the week.
The eyewall of the hurricane remains south of Jamaica, but large parts of the island are already experiencing tropical storm conditions.
Moving slowly at about 2 mph (3.2 km/h) in a north-easterly direction, the storm has now begun to shift northward and could gain some speed in the coming hours.
Sustained winds are currently at 175 mph (282 km/h), with even stronger gusts recorded. Classified as an extremely dangerous Category 5 hurricane, it is the most powerful storm on the planet this year based on wind strength and central pressure, which stands at just 901 millibars.
Melissa was centered about 150 miles (240 kilometers) southwest of Kingston and about 330 miles (530 kilometers) southwest of Guantánamo, Cuba. The system had maximum sustained winds of 175 mph (280 kph) and was moving north-northeast at 2 mph (4 kph), according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.
“We will get through it together,” said Evan Thompson, principal director at Jamaica’s meteorological service.
Colin Bogle, a Mercy Corps advisor based near Kingston, said most families are sheltering in place despite the government ordering evacuations in flood-prone communities. (AP)
The Category 5 Hurricane Melissa is fast approaching Caribbean island Jamaica and is scheduled to make landfall in the western part early on Tuesday morning (local time). The storm is sustaining winds of 175 mph and warnings have been issued that it may cause extensive damage to infrastructure, power and communication outages.
Here is how to stay safe as hurricane begins downfall in Jamaica:
The United Sates Air Force released a video of an Air Force plane from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, also known as known as the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters, which flew into the eye of Hurricane Melissa on Monday.
The crew flew several times through the Hurricane Melissa in order to collect data for the US National Hurricane Center.
A US Air Force plane from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, known as the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters, flies into the eye of Hurricane Melissa, as the category 5 Hurricane approaches Jamaica.
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) October 28, 2025
Jamaican officials have called on the public to get to higher ground and… pic.twitter.com/AXmIESSCJG
One of the most popular and scenic tourist spot in Jamaica, "Lovers Leap", famous among the couples and star-crossed lovers, witnessed strong winds on Tuesday as Category 5 Hurricane Melissa started its downfall on the Caribbean island, CNN reported.
Hurricane Melissa is sustaining winds of 175 mph and moving at a slow pace, which could bring flood, catastrophic floods and damage in Jamaica.
Melissa also was expected to make landfall in eastern Cuba late Tuesday as a powerful hurricane.
A hurricane warning was in effect for Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo and Holguin provinces, while a tropical storm warning was in effect for Las Tunas. Up to 20 inches (51 centimeters) of rain were forecast for parts of Cuba, along with a significant storm surge along the coast.
Cuban officials said Monday that they were evacuating more than 600,000 people from the region, including Santiago, the island’s second-largest city. (AP)
Hurricane Melissa was set to pummel Jamaica on Tuesday as a catastrophic Category 5 storm, the strongest to lash the island since recordkeeping began 174 years ago.
The storm was expected to make landfall early Tuesday and slice diagonally across the island, entering near St. Elizabeth parish in the south and exiting around St. Ann parish in the north, forecasters said.
Hours before the storm, the government said it had done all it could to prepare as it warned of catastrophic damage.
“There is no infrastructure in the region that can withstand a Category 5,” Prime Minister Andrew Holness said. “The question now is the speed of recovery. That’s the challenge.”
Landslides, fallen trees and numerous power outages were reported ahead of the storm, with officials in Jamaica cautioning that the cleanup and damage assessment would be slow.
- AP
The category 5 hurricane Melissa, which is moving at a slow pace, has caused fatalities across three Caribbean island nations, with at least three people killed in Haiti, one person killed in Dominican Republic and one person remains missing there.
In Jamaica, at least two people died as they were cutting trees and it fell on them during the preparedness for the Hurricane Melissa. One person died of electrocution in Jamaica, AP reported.
Crews in Montego Bay were seen clearing rivers in the Caribbean island of Jamaica on Monday in order to lower the risk of flooding as Category 5 hurricane Melissa approaches the region.
Montego Bay Mayor Richard Vernon, in a statement to Reuters, said that "We are anticipating huge impact," adding that teams are “used to being in this level of preparedness.”
The US National Hurricane Center has issued stark warning for the Category 5 Melissa hurricane for the people in Jamaica as the storm has moved towards northward, aiming at the Caribbean island.
In a warning to people in Jamaica, the hurricane forecaster stated, "Remain in your safe shelter. Catastrophic flash flooding and numerous landslides are expected through Tuesday. The eyewall’s destructive winds may cause total structural failure, particularly in higher elevations, leading to widespread infrastructural damage, prolonged power and communication outages, and isolated communities," CNN reported.
The intensification of one of the strongest hurricanes in the Atlantic and the strongest storm on the planet this year, Hurricane Melissa was triggered by unusual hot ocean temperatures in the Caribbean.
Hurricane Melissa underwent two intense modification since it started its whirlwind, first climbing from 70 mph on Saturday morning to 140 mph in just 24 hours. Thereafter, from Sunday afternoon to Monday afternoon, hurricane's peak wind jumped again, going from 140 mph to 175 mph, CNN reported.
Hurricane Melissa, which strengthened into a Category 5 storm, is moving at a sustained winds of 175 mph and is currently spinning around 150 miles southwest of Kingston, Jamaica. Melissa is one of the most intense hurricanes to have been ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean, CNN reported.
Since Melissa is moving at a slow pace, Jamaica will be under its grip for a longer duration once the center nears the land and could cause major devastation in the Caribbean island.
On Monday night, Melissa was centered about 155 miles (245 kilometers) southwest of Kingston and about 335 miles (535 kilometers) southwest of Guantánamo, Cuba. The system had maximum sustained winds of 175 mph (280 kph) and was moving northwest at 2 mph (4 kph), according to the US National Hurricane Center in Miami.
Parts of eastern Jamaica could see up to 30 inches (76 centimeters) of rain while western Haiti could get 16 inches (40 centimeters), the hurricane center said, citing the likelihood of “catastrophic flash flooding and numerous landslides."
- AP
The Category 5 Hurricane Melissa, which is expected to make a landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday, would be the strongest hurricane to hit the island since record-keeping began in 1851.
As Melissa draws closer to Caribbean island, forecasters expect it to bring catastrophic flooding, landslides and widespread damage, AP reported.
As Hurricane Melissa draws closer to Jamaica, forecasters expect it to unleash catastrophic flooding, landslides and widespread damage. It would be the strongest hurricane to hit the island since record-keeping began in 1851. pic.twitter.com/Zbhh9tkxe7
— The Associated Press (@AP) October 27, 2025
The US National Hurricane Center, in a post on X, has issued warning that the Category 5 Hurricane Melissa is expected to bring "catastrophic and life-threatening winds, flooding and storm" later on Monday and Tuesday as it makes landfall in Jamaica and then reaching Cuba later in the day.
In a post on X, the NHC wrote, "Hurricane #melissa Advisory 26A: Melissa Expected to Bring Catastrophic and Life-Threatening Winds, Flooding, and Storm Surge to Jamaica Later Tonight and On Tuesday."
Hurricane #melissa Advisory 26A: Melissa Expected to Bring Catastrophic and Life-Threatening Winds, Flooding, and Storm Surge to Jamaica Later Tonight and On Tuesday. https://t.co/tW4KeGdBFb
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) October 27, 2025
At least three people have died in Jamaica as they were preparing for the landfall of Category 5 hurricane Melissa on Monday night, Minister of Health and Wellness Christopher Tufton said, CNN reported.
The three deaths in Jamaica happened while trees were being cut. Two of them died after trees fell on top of them, and the third person was electrocuted. The minister further informed that at least 13 people have been injured during the preparation for the storm's arrival.
Melissa, which is now a Category 5 hurricane, is slowly and steadily turning towards the northern direction and it is expected to make a landfall in western Jamaica on early Tuesday morning.
After Melissa crosses Jamaica, the hurricane would then head towards Cuba and it is expected to make a landfall in Cuba on Tuesday night into early Wednesday morning, CNN reported.
Meteorologists have warned that the slow pace of Category 5 hurricane Melissa means that it is all set to pour torrential rain on affected region for a longer period of time, which increases the risk of deadly flooding and landslides, BBC reported.
The United States embassies across Jamaica, Haiti, Bahamas, Cuba have issued advisories to its citizens on Monday to take shelter in place as Hurricane Melissa barreled toward Jamaica.
The embassy in its advice to citizens said, "Leave now while some flights are still available or be prepared to shelter in place."
Hurricane Melissa began lashing Jamaica with violent gusts on Monday as the US National Hurricane Center upgraded it to a Category 5 storm packing sustained winds of 165 mph, the largest on record to slam into the Caribbean island.
Cuba, the eastern Bahamas and Turks and Caicos also lie in the expected path of the storm, which will make its way north and east towards Bermuda later this week.
The hurricane is expected to stay well offshore of the United States, bringing only rough surf and minor coastal flooding to the US East Coast. (Reuters)
Before nearing Jamaica, Hurricane Melissa unleashed torrential rain in the Dominican Republic, forcing the closure of schools and government offices in several provinces under red alert on Monday. According to AP reports, the storm damaged over 750 homes and displaced nearly 3,800 people, with floodwaters cutting off access to dozens of communities, officials said.
Hurricane Melissa intensified to a Category 5 storm as it neared Jamaica, bringing up to 30-40 inches of rain, life-threatening storm surges up to 13 feet, and catastrophic flooding. The slow-moving hurricane, packing winds of 160 mph, is the strongest to hit Jamaica in decades. At least four people have died, three in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic, with one missing. The storm has destroyed crops, displaced thousands, and cut access to dozens of communities across Hispaniola. Melissa is expected to make landfall in eastern Cuba next, threatening heavy rain, landslides, and severe coastal flooding. (AP)
Hurricane Melissa was located about 315 miles (505 km) south-southwest of Guantanamo, Cuba, packing maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 kph), NHC said.
"A slow turn toward the northwest and north is expected today and tonight, followed by a northeastward acceleration beginning on Tuesday and continuing through at least Thursday," NHC said.
NHC says Hurricane Melissa is now a Category 5 Hurricane, storm surge, winds and flooding will worsen in Jamaica.
-Reuters
Evan Thompson, principal director at Jamaica's meteorological service warned that cleanup and damage assessment would be severely delayed because of anticipated landslides, flooding and blocked roads.
"Melissa could become the first Category 4 hurricane to make landfall in Jamaica in recent history, Thompson said. Gilbert was a Category 3 hurricane when it hit the island in 1988 and two recent Category 4 storms, Ivan and Beryl, did not make landfall," he added.
In Haiti, the storm destroyed crops in three regions, including 15 hectares (37 acres) of maize at a time when at least 5.7 million people, more than half of the country’s population, is experiencing crisis levels of hunger, with 1.9 million of those facing emergency levels of hunger.“Flooding is obstructing access to farmland and markets, jeopardizing harvests and the winter agricultural season,” the U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization said.
“I want to urge Jamaicans to take this seriously,” said Desmond McKenzie, deputy chairman of the island’s Disaster Risk Management Council. “Do not gamble with Melissa. It’s not a safe bet.”
Some areas of eastern Jamaica could get 40 inches (1m) of rain while western Haiti could get 16 inches (40cm), according to the US National Hurricane Center in Miami.
NHC says Hurricane Melissa is about 505km south-southwest of Guantanamo Cuba and the maximum sustained winds is 240km/h.
-Reuters
The consequence of Hurricane Melissa in Haiti has led to the death of at least three people, and another five were injured due to a collapsed wall, AP reported. Reports suggested that Haiti is witnessing rising river levels, flooding and a bridge was destroyed due to breached riverbanks in Sainte-Suzanne, in the northeast.
Haitian officials have said that residents are reluctant to vacate their homes even after the government's order to evacuation. The storm has damaged nearly 200 houses in the Dominican Republic and has damaged water distribution system, which has affected more than half a million customers.
Hurricane Melissa, traversing over the Caribbean, poses an extreme threat to Jamaica, Haiti and the southern Dominican Republic as the storm could make landfall in these region with catastrophic wind, rain and damages to infrastructure among others.
Apart from these, other regions that could face the brunt of strong winds, storm surge and flooding rain would be eastern Cuba, the southern Bahamas and Turks and Caicos, CNN reported.
Hurricane Melissa is expected to strengthen into a rare Category 5 storm after it rapidly intensified into a major Category 4 storm, with a sustained wind speed of 145 miles per hour.
The National Hurricane Center said that if the hurricane maintains its strength or becomes even more disastrous, it could become the strongest hurricane to have made landfall in Jamaica.
According to ABC News, the strongest hurricane to have made landfall in the Caribbean island country was Hurricane Gilbert in 1988, a Category 4 hurricane, with sustained winds of 130 mph.
Hurricane Melissa has developed into a Category 4 hurricane heading towards Jamaica and Cuba and is expected to bring catastrophic floods, landslides and storm surges to the region, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said on Sunday.
Melissa has maximum sustained winds of up to 140 mph (220kph) and is expected to strengthen as it heads towards Jamaica, where it should make landfall Monday night or Tuesday morning. It is likely to hit southeastern Cuba late Tuesday.
In Jamaica, authorities have implored residents to evacuate to nearly 900 shelters around the country, providing assistance to those wanting to leave. On Sunday night, Prime Minister Andrew Holness issued mandatory evacuation orders for Port Royal in Kingston and six other areas.
"Many of these communities will not survive this flooding," Desmond McKenzie, minister of local government, said at a press conference earlier in the day. "Kingston is low, extremely low ... No community in Kingston is immune from flooding." Both international airports were closed.
- Reuters
Hurricane Melissa, which could transform into a rare Category 5 hurricane, is expected to be near or over Cuba by late Tuesday, and it is expected to bring 12 inches (30 centimeters) of rain to the region. Melissa would then move toward Bahamas later on Wednesday.
A hurricane warning has been issued by the Cuban government for the provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo, and Holguin, AP reported. The Cuban administration also sent a tropical storm warning to the province of Las Tunas.
The two major airports in Jamaica, the Norman Manley International Airport and the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, have been closed by Sunday as the island braced for the impact of Category 4 Hurricane Melissa, AP reported.
Elon Musk owned Starlink, the telecommunications subsidiary of SpaceX, has said that it'll provide support to the Jamaican government to help with the communication capability during and after the hurricane, ABC News reported.
Melissa, which is a Category 4 hurricane, is poised to make huge damage in the Caribbean and it is having an impact on a couple of countries, including Haiti where torrential rains are impacting a portion of the region.
Melissa, which is expected to strengthen in to Category 5 hurricane, is creating tropical storm like conditions in Jamaica. It is expected to cause heavy rainfall that could last for several days, and bring life threatening and potentially catastrophic impact, CNN reported.
Hurricane Melissa is sustaining the Category 4 strength on Sunday, and it is expected to become stronger and convert to a rare Category 5 storm, threatening to cause catastrophic flooding in the northern Caribbean, including Haiti and Jamaica, AP reported.
Hurricane Melissa is centered around 205 kilometeres south-southwest of Kingston, Jamaica and about 500 kilometeres south-southwest of Guantánamo, Cuba, on Sunday night. Melissa is expected to drop about 76 centimetres on Jamaica and southern Hispaniola, including Haiti and the Dominican Republic, according to the hurricane center
The US National Hurricane Center has urged the residents of Jamaica to "seek shelter now" as Hurricane Melissa, which is now a Category 4 hurricane, would become a rare Category 5 hurricane and make landfall in the Caribbean.
In a statement on Sunday, the US forecaster said, "Damaging winds and heavy rainfall today and on Monday will cause catastrophic and life-threatening flash flooding and numerous landslides before potentially devastating winds arrive Monday night and Tuesday morning."
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