Rapidly Intensifying Hurricane Melissa Threatens Jamaica

Hurricane Melissa has formed in the central Caribbean and is forecast to rapidly intensify to a major Category 4–5 storm with very slow forward motion that could subject Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Republic to prolonged, life‑threatening winds, storm surge, flash flooding and landslides. Forecasters warn Melissa could drop catastrophic rainfall—measured in feet in some mountainous areas—and models show Jamaica is likely to take the brunt with hurricane conditions lasting many days in some locations. The system has been linked to multiple deaths in Haiti and at least one death and one missing person in the Dominican Republic. Jamaican authorities have activated emergency responses: the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management and the Tourism Emergency Operations Centre are on alert, the island is preparing 881 shelters and shelter managers, the Jamaica Red Cross has pre‑positioned supplies with IFRC support (CHF 80,000), and the Jamaica Public Service has activated emergency operations and mutual‑aid agreements. Major travel disruptions are underway—Norman Manley International Airport closed for the night, Sangster International may close, and multiple airlines have canceled flights or waived change fees—so officials are urging residents and travellers to complete preparations now and to monitor local advisories.