Melissa made landfall on the eastern tip of Jamaica midday Tuesday, and likely within half a mile of Kingston passed through catastrophic conditions as a Category 5 storm. This intense category five hurricane is now even being referred to as the most severe storm to ever hit Jamaica, at least since record-keeping started in 1851. MYANMAR • As it sweeps diagonally across the island, residents are preparing for life-threatening weather and catastrophic damage.
As Melissa made landfall, it hit its peak intensity. The storm has already released prodigious swells, and winds are reaching over 160 miles per hour. This extreme weather has led to severe infrastructure damage enabling widespread public emergency alerts throughout the region. Emergency responders are still on the lookout. Officials are warning people to avoid going out, and to take shelter and stay inside as the storm moves closer.
As Hurricane Melissa moves off to the northeast, Melissa should close in on Cuba later this evening. The storm is currently moving directly toward Haiti and the Bahamas. Look for great effects to come for either region during the next few days. Meteorologists are urging Americans living in these areas to get ready for torrential downpours, hurricane-force winds and life-threatening surf and coastal flooding.
To that end, local electeds in Jamaica quickly organized an impressive confluence of resources to support impacted communities. The depth of that damage is not yet fully known as the storm still pounds communities. Severe conditions—including widespread power outages and catastrophic flooding—have already hampered rescue and recovery operations across the region.
Beyond the immediate dangers unleashed by Hurricane Melissa, the long-term consequences for Jamaica’s economy and infrastructure are alarming. The storm’s unprecedented strength raises questions about preparedness for future hurricanes in the region, as climate change continues to contribute to more intense weather patterns.