Hurricane Melissa Intensifies to Category 5, Threatening Jamaica and Cuba

Local Weather Forecast

• ☀️ Expect a mix of spotty showers and thunderstorms today, with good dry periods and sunshine.
• 🌡️ Temperatures are mild, in the 70s near the coast and 60s further north, feeling a bit more muggy due to humidity.
• 💨 A brisk east to west wind is expected, with gusts up to the 20s, leading to choppy conditions on the water and a small craft advisory.
• 🌦️ Rain activity is likely to focus in the afternoon and evening, with potential for locally heavy rain around dinnertime.

Hurricane Melissa's Rapid Intensification

• 🌀 Hurricane Melissa has strengthened very quickly over the last 24 hours, appearing as a healthy and impressive storm.
• 📍 Currently located about 120 miles southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, it is on a westward track.
• 📈 Forecasts indicate it will strengthen to a Category 5 hurricane by Monday, with winds around 160 mph.

Impact on the Caribbean

• 🇯🇲 The hurricane is expected to approach Jamaica late Monday into Tuesday, with winds still around 150-160 mph.
• 🇨🇺 It will then clip eastern Cuba and the southern Bahamas as a weakening hurricane by Wednesday into Thursday.
• ⚠️ Significant concerns exist for wind, storm surge, and heavy rainfall in Jamaica, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic due to the storm's intensity and the region's high terrain.
• 🌊 Storm surge is predicted to be up to 10 feet or higher on the southern portion of Jamaica.
• 🌧️ Rainfall accumulations are a major concern, with at least a foot expected in many areas, and up to 40 inches in some spots, posing a severe flooding risk.