In brief
Hurricane Melissa is gaining strength as it heads towards Jamaica, with forecasts indicating dangerous conditions including heavy rainfall, flash flooding, and landslides. Residents are urged to prepare for the hurricane's arrival as it approaches landfall early next week.
Hurricane Melissa is forecast to become a rare category five storm as it turns towards Jamaica, bringing life-threatening flash flooding and landslides.
The cyclone, which had winds of up to 120 mph (195 km/h) as of 06:00 GMT, is currently moving northwest in the Caribbean and is expected to make landfall by Tuesday, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC).
The NHC warns of power outages and infrastructure damage as Melissa could deliver up to 30 inches (76 cm) of rain and sea level surges as high as 13 ft (4 m). Residents have been advised to seek shelter.
Melissa is the 13th hurricane of the current Atlantic season, which typically concludes in November.
A category five hurricane is the strongest classification, with winds exceeding 157 mph. Although Melissa is anticipated to weaken to a category four storm before reaching Jamaica, the NHC asserts that the overall impacts will remain significant.
Preparations should be expedited, particularly in central Jamaica and the capital city, Kingston, where tropical storm-strength winds and rain are forecasted to begin well ahead of the storm's passage.
A multi-day period of damaging winds and heavy rainfall has begun, leading to potentially catastrophic flash flooding and numerous landslides, warned the meteorological agency. Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness emphasized the importance of preparation, stating, I know many are anxious, but being prepared is key.\
Residents are advised to secure their homes and stock up on essential supplies. Warnings are also in effect in parts of Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and eastern Cuba, where similar weather-related effects are expected. The hurricane has already caused land erosion in Haiti, leading to at least two fatalities.
Melissa is expected to move past Cuba by Wednesday and weaken to a category three storm as it navigates towards the Antillas Mayores and eventually into the Atlantic.
Climate scientists note that while it is challenging to connect individual weather events to climate change, rising ocean temperatures contribute to the increasing frequency and severity of hurricanes.
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had predicted above-normal hurricane activity for the season due to warmer sea conditions.
