Hurricane Melissa: Category 4 Storm Threatens Catastrophic Flooding in Jamaica and Haiti

Hurricane Melissa's Strength and Trajectory

• 🌀 Hurricane Melissa has strengthened to a Category 4 storm with maximum winds of 145 mph, moving west at 5 mph.
• 📈 Forecasters expect it to intensify into a Category 5 hurricane by tomorrow, potentially reaching sustained winds of 160 mph.
• 📍 The storm's track indicates a landfall on Jamaica's southern coast as a Category 5 hurricane on Tuesday morning.

Impacts on Jamaica and Cuba

• ⚠️ Jamaica has never recorded a Category 5 hurricane landfall, making this event unprecedented for the island.
• 🌧️ Widespread rainfall of 15 to 30 inches is expected across Jamaica, with isolated totals reaching 40 inches.
• ⛰️ Catastrophic flash flooding and landslides are anticipated in Jamaica, with the worst conditions expected late Monday into Tuesday afternoon.
• 🇨🇺 Eastern Cuba could see 10 to 15 inches of rain, with isolated totals up to 20 inches.

Broader Regional Threats

• ➡️ After impacting Jamaica, Melissa is forecast to move north-northeast, making another landfall across eastern Cuba as a major hurricane.
• 🇧🇸 The storm is also expected to impact the southeastern Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, and eventually Bermuda.
• 🌊 The storm's massive size and passage over very warm waters are contributing to its continued strengthening.