Hurricane Melissa becomes Category 5 storm, Jamaica braces for catastrophic impact

By Seyit Kurt

ISTANBUL (AA) - Hurricane Melissa intensified into a Category 5 storm early Monday, threatening Jamaica and parts of the Caribbean with life-threatening floods, destructive winds, and landslides, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC).

As of 5 am local time (1000GMT), Melissa was located about 130 miles (210 kilometers) southwest of the Jamaican capital Kingston, with maximum sustained winds of 160 mi per hour (257 km per hour). The NHC warned that the hurricane could strengthen further before making landfall in Jamaica early Tuesday.

According to NBC News, authorities urged residents to seek shelter and avoid leaving their homes amid expectations of “catastrophic” flash flooding and extreme winds forecast to last from Monday into Tuesday.

The Jamaican government is expected to issue a public update at 11.30 am local time (1630GMT).

Meteorologists warned that Melissa could dump 15-30 inches (38-76 centimeters) of rain across much of Jamaica, with totals reaching up to 40 in (100 cm) in eastern areas, exceeding the island’s average annual rainfall in some regions.

Desmond Mackenzie, Jamaica’s Minister of Local Government and Community Development, said Sunday that many communities “will not survive this flooding.” Authorities have set up emergency shelters and rescue teams across the island in preparation for the storm’s impact.

The NHC also reported that due to the island’s mountainous terrain, wind speeds in elevated areas could exceed 200 mph (322 kph), with storm effects expected along Jamaica’s southern coast.

The hurricane has already claimed at least four lives-- three in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic -- with heavy rain and flash flooding expected to continue in both countries through midweek.

Cuba was also preparing Monday for torrential rain, flooding, and landslides, while hurricane warnings were in effect for the central and southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

According to the NHC, while interaction with Jamaica is likely to weaken Melissa somewhat, the storm is expected to maintain much of its strength as it moves later this week toward southeastern Cuba, the Bahamas, and possibly near Bermuda.

Melissa is now the most powerful hurricane to threaten the region since Hurricane Gilbert in 1988.