Melissa Expected To Hit Jamaica as Major Hurricane

Tropical Storm Melissa is forecast to rapidly intensify and is now expected to move south-to-north across central Jamaica, making landfall Tuesday as a major hurricane and potentially strengthening to Category 4–5 with near-155 mph winds after rapid intensification over very warm Caribbean waters. Its slow motion and extreme winds raise the prospect of catastrophic storm surge, extreme winds, widespread flash flooding, landslides, and prolonged power and communications outages across Jamaica and neighboring islands. Heavy rainfall is expected across Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and eastern Cuba, with many forecasts showing 300–400 mm (12–16 inches) likely in places and localized higher totals possible. Melissa has already caused flooding in Hispaniola and has been credited with one death and additional injuries in Haiti. Jamaican authorities have opened shelters, closed non-essential offices and urged residents and visitors to prepare as hotels and households board up and pile sandbags. U.S. East Coast communities should monitor Melissa for rough surf, beach erosion and coastal flooding even if the storm’s center remains offshore.