Hurricane Melissa Devastates Jamaica, Aims for Cuba with Record Strength

Hurricane Melissa's Impact on Jamaica

• 🌀 Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica with category 5 gusts topping 200 mph, shattering records.
• 🏚️ The storm caused catastrophic damage, rendering many roads impassable and inundating homes and public infrastructure like hospitals.
• 🆘 Approximately 6,000 people are seeking refuge in shelters, and over half a million are without power.
• ⚠️ Officials issued a warning about crocodiles in the floodwaters.
• 😥 Despite the devastation, no fatalities have been reported in Jamaica yet, but the full extent of the heartache will emerge at dawn.

Melissa's Path Towards Cuba and Beyond

• 📈 After interacting with Jamaica, Hurricane Melissa has regained strength, with winds now up to 130 mph as it approaches eastern Cuba.
• 🌊 An 8 to 12 foot storm surge is expected for eastern Cuba, with hurricane conditions imminent.
• ➡️ The storm is forecast to move northeast, impacting the Bahamas and potentially nearing Bermuda by late Thursday and Friday.
• 📊 The hurricane's landfall in Jamaica was tied for the second-highest wind speed and third-lowest pressure on record for the Atlantic, with a uniquely clear eye.