Hurricane Melissa: Category 5 Landfall in Jamaica, Weakens to Category 4

Hurricane Melissa's Landfall and Impact

• 🌀 Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica at 1:00 PM local time as a Category 5 storm, with maximum sustained winds of 185 mph and a pressure of 982 millibars, tying it for the strongest landfalling Atlantic hurricane on record.
• 📉 The storm has since weakened to a Category 4 hurricane due to interaction with Jamaica's mountainous terrain, with its eye no longer evident and maximum sustained winds now at 145 mph.
• 📍 The storm's core is currently just off the northern coast of Jamaica and is heading towards eastern Cuba.

Damage and Conditions in Jamaica

• 🏚️ Heavy floodwaters and winds tore roofs off buildings in southwestern Jamaica.
• ⚠️ Montego Bay experienced the western eyewall of the hurricane for several hours, impacting the most populated area of Jamaica so far.
• 🌊 While winds were a major concern, storm surge was also significant, particularly near Black River on Jamaica's south coast.
• ⚡ Kingston is still experiencing tropical storm-force wind gusts, with winds gusting to 48 mph.

Forecast Track and Future Impacts

• 🇨🇺 Eastern Cuba is under a hurricane warning and is forecast to be approached by Melissa as a Category 4 storm.
• 🇧🇸 The central and southeastern Bahamas are also under a hurricane warning and are expected to be impacted by a Category 3 storm.
• 🇧🇲 Bermuda is under a hurricane watch and is forecast to be approached by a Category 2 storm on Thursday evening.

Historical Significance and Safety

• 🏆 Melissa ties for the strongest landfalling Atlantic hurricane on record, with records dating back to the mid-1850s, alongside storms like Dorian (2019) and the Great Labor Day Hurricane (1935).
• ⚠️ It is expected to be the strongest hurricane landfall for Eastern Cuba since Matthew in 2016 and potentially since Sandy in 2012.
• ⏳ Residents in affected areas, like Montego Bay, are advised to remain sheltered until winds decrease to tropical storm levels, likely later this evening, and to be cautious of downed power lines and debris even after the storm passes.