Hurricane Melissa, the most powerful storm of the year, is on the verge of hitting Jamaica, as announced by the National Hurricane Center. This Category 5 hurricane, boasting sustained winds of 175mph, is currently causing havoc on the Caribbean island with flash floods and storm surges. Although still a distance away, the storm is rapidly approaching, with the eye set to reach land by midday local time (5pm GMT). Meteorologists are predicting Melissa to potentially be the fiercest hurricane ever to strike Jamaica, bringing with it up to 30 inches of rainfall and 175mph winds.
Following its impact on Jamaica, Melissa is projected to head towards eastern Cuba on Tuesday evening (12pm GMT), prompting the evacuation of over 500,000 individuals from high-risk areas susceptible to flooding and high winds.
By Wednesday at 7pm local time (12pm GMT), the hurricane is expected to advance towards the Bahamas, albeit weakened to a Category 2 storm.
Tragically, Melissa has already resulted in the loss of three lives in Jamaica and four in 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 currently on the island.
Michael Brennan, the director of the US National Hurricane Center in Miami, has cautioned that the situation will be extremely perilous, emphasizing the likelihood of significant structural damage. Brennan highlighted the potential for wind gusts up to 200mph in Jamaica’s highest mountains. Melissa is anticipated to make landfall in eastern Cuba either overnight on Tuesday or early Wednesday. Subsequently, tracking maps depict the hurricane’s trajectory into the North Atlantic Ocean, skimming past the farthest eastern point of Canada.
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has emphasized the lack of infrastructure capable of withstanding the storm’s impact.
Climate experts point to the worsening effects of Caribbean hurricanes due to the climate crisis. Research conducted by Climate Central reveals that Melissa underwent rapid intensification while lingering over ocean waters 1.4C warmer than usual, conditions exacerbated by climate change.
The hurricane has been dubbed Melissa in accordance with the naming protocol of the US National Hurricane Center and the World Meteorological Organization for tropical storms. Names are cycled every six years and retired only in cases of extreme catastrophic events.
