Hurricane Melissa: Devastating Winds and Flooding in Cuba

Hurricane Melissa's Impact on Cuba

• 🌀 Hurricane Melissa made landfall in southeastern Cuba as a major Category 3 storm with 120 mph winds.
• 🌧️ The storm is expected to bring up to 25 inches of rain, a potential 12-foot storm surge, and the threat of landslides.
• 🏚️ Residents are experiencing hurricane-force winds for about 12 hours, with reports of roofs being torn off and trees falling.
• ⚠️ Communication is difficult due to the severe weather, and it is unsafe to go outside due to wind gusts and flying debris.

Infrastructure and Evacuation Challenges

• 📉 Cuba's already strained infrastructure and economic problems are being exacerbated by the hurricane.
• ⚡ Widespread blackouts are affecting the region, with no power reported in many areas.
• ⬆️ Hundreds of thousands of people have evacuated to higher ground, with authorities implementing mandatory evacuations.

Storm's Path and Future Forecast

• 💨 The storm is currently moving across eastern Cuba and is weakening over land, but remains powerful.
• 🌊 It is heading towards the Bahamas, where it is expected to move back over water and pick up speed.
• ⚠️ While moving faster may reduce rainfall duration, significant flooding and winds up to 120 mph are still possible for the Bahamas and surrounding areas.

Damage Assessment and Reporting

• 📸 Initial photos from Jamaica show extensive tree damage, with catastrophic damage expected on the western side of the island where the eye made landfall.
• 🌦️ Daylight is revealing more about the devastation, with CNN crews heading to the area for further reporting.
• 🎤 Meteorologists are tracking the storm's intensity, path, and potential for heavy rainfall and flooding.