Hurricane Melissa Hits Jamaica: 175 mph Winds, Evacuations Urged

UPDATE: Hurricane Melissa has officially become the strongest storm on the planet this year, packing sustained winds of 175 mph. As of now, the powerful hurricane is threatening Jamaica and surrounding regions with severe impacts expected to begin early Tuesday morning.

Melissa’s intensifying winds place it among the top ten strongest hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic basin. Only nine hurricanes have surpassed its wind speeds, with Hurricane Allen from 1980 still holding the record at 190 mph. Tragically, Hurricane Melissa has already claimed lives in the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

As of the latest reports, Hurricane Melissa is moving northwest at a crawl of just 2 mph, with its eye predicted to reach the southern coast of Jamaica on Tuesday morning. However, the storm’s worst conditions will begin much earlier, with tropical-storm-force winds expected to spread across Jamaica after midnight.

Jamaica’s Minister of Labour and Social Security, Pearnel Charles, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that evacuation orders are mandatory, not optional. “This is a directive to save your life,” he warned, highlighting the “extreme devastation and danger” Hurricane Melissa poses. The minister added that preparations are underway to transport residents to emergency shelters.

The National Hurricane Center has issued dire warnings, predicting up to 40 inches of rain and a storm surge reaching 13 feet. Wind gusts could exceed 200 mph, particularly in mountainous regions, resulting in what the NHC describes as “extensive infrastructure damage.” As Melissa approaches, the prolonged impact of its slow movement raises concerns of widespread flooding and destruction.

“It (Melissa) is very slow, it is very, very, very intense,” said Charles during an interview. “The outcome may potentially be extreme devastation and danger,” he added, reinforcing the need for immediate action.

In response to the impending disaster, the United Nations is preparing to deploy humanitarian staff to both Jamaica and Cuba this week. The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has stated it is committed to supporting local authorities “ahead of further impact.” As conditions allow, personnel will assist with coordination and preparedness efforts across the region.

After impacting Jamaica, Hurricane Melissa is expected to maintain its strength as it moves towards eastern Cuba, bringing damaging winds and potentially catastrophic flooding. Fortunately, forecasts suggest that the storm will not directly hit the United States, thanks to an incoming cold front acting as a protective barrier.

However, while Melissa may not make landfall in the U.S., it will still generate rough seas and increase the risk of dangerous rip currents along the East Coast. These impacts are expected to begin on Wednesday as the storm crosses into the Atlantic, continuing through at least the weekend.

Residents in affected areas are urged to remain vigilant, take evacuation orders seriously, and prepare for the potential devastation Hurricane Melissa could unleash. As the situation develops, stay tuned for critical updates on this life-threatening storm.