Hurricane Melissa has intensified into a Category 5 storm, unleashing what meteorologists describe as a “catastrophic, historic strike” on Jamaica with life-threatening flooding, destructive winds, and massive storm surge, according to The Weather Channel.
Record-Breaking Impact and Forecast
Melissa’s center was located about 150 miles southwest of Kingston on Monday, moving at a speed of under 5 mph, a pace forecasters say will worsen the damage. The Weather Channel reported that the hurricane “is still gaining some wind intensity after first attaining Category 5 status early Monday morning,” and that “bands of heavy rain and tropical storm conditions have arrived in Jamaica” as the storm’s outer edges sweep the island.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned that “up to 40 inches of rain could fall in southern Hispaniola and Jamaica through Wednesday,” with “catastrophic, life-threatening flash flooding and landslides,” especially in hilly and mountainous terrain.
A storm surge of 9 to 13 feet above ground level is expected east of where Melissa is forecast to make landfall along Jamaica’s southern coast, potentially affecting Kingston and Norman Manley International Airport, according to the NHC.
Melissa’s slow movement over the Caribbean Sea means “prolific rainfall” will persist for days. Eastern Cuba is forecast to receive up to 20 inches of rain and a storm surge of 7 to 11 feet, while the Turks and Caicos and southeast Bahamas may see up to 8 inches of rain and a surge of 4 to 6 feet (The Weather Channel).
LIGHT A PRAYER CANDLE FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY HURRICANE MELISSA
‘No Part of Jamaica Will Be Spared’
Evan Thompson, principal director of the Meteorological Service of Jamaica, warned that “no part of Jamaica will be spared from the effects of the monster hurricane, whose deadly combination of rapid intensification and snail-paced advancement is a recipe for a catastrophic, record-breaking natural disaster,” according to The Guardian.
Thompson told the paper that “on Tuesday we should look for the hurricane-force winds starting to impact southern coastal areas and then gradually spreading as the system moves closer to the coastline,” adding that “intense shower activity” will extend across central and western Jamaica. He expects the hurricane’s center to move off the northern coast by Wednesday but said rainfall “should continue over much of the island.”
Evacuations and Warnings
Jamaican authorities have issued mandatory evacuations in several flood-prone communities, including Port Royal and Old Harbour Bay, after closing both international airports and activating 881 shelters, according to The Guardian.
“Many of these communities will not survive the flooding,” warned Desmond McKenzie, Jamaica’s Minister of Local Government. “Kingston is extremely low. No community in Kingston is immune.” (The Guardian)
Residents in some evacuation zones told The Guardian they were reluctant to leave their homes, fearing theft or unsafe shelter conditions. Officials acknowledged that some designated shelters were reportedly closed when residents arrived. Thompson said, “If we can assure them that there will be systems in place to ensure they do not suffer that kind of consequence, I think more would be encouraged to move.”
Regional Toll and Climate Context
The hurricane has already killed at least four people — three in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic — with another person missing, The Guardian reported. In the Dominican Republic, over 750 homes were damaged and 3,760 people displaced as floods cut access to 48 communities, according to government data cited by the Associated Press.
In Haiti, the storm destroyed crops in three regions, worsening hunger for the 5.7 million people already facing crisis-level food insecurity (The Guardian).
Liz Stephens, professor of climate risks and resilience at the University of Reading, said Melissa “has all the ingredients to be a catastrophic storm, with devastating storm-surge, extreme winds and unusually high rainfall accumulations.” She added that “with climate change fuelling stronger storms with higher rainfall totals, this is a stark example for other countries as to what may be in store for them.” (The Guardian)
Historical Significance
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) database cited by The Weather Channel, although eight other Category 4 or 5 hurricanes have tracked within 60 nautical miles of Jamaica, no storm of such intensity has ever made direct landfall there. Only two Category 5 hurricanes have previously come this close: Allen (1980) and Ivan (2004).
Faith Response
As the Caribbean braces for continued devastation, Catholic aid groups have urged prayers for those in the storm’s path. While no official Church statement had been released at press time, parishes across Jamaica and the Antilles have been advised to remain open for those seeking refuge.
The Weather Channel warned that “life-threatening hurricane conditions are expected to begin in Jamaica tonight and last into early Tuesday.”
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