Hurricane Melissa tore into Jamaica on Tuesday as a rare Category 5 storm, with top winds of 185 mph. The eye headed straight across the island, threatening every coastal community and tourist spot.
Jamaica is already seeing heavy rain—about 3 feet in some areas—and power cuts that began before the storm even struck. The local government has ordered mandatory evacuations and warned of “catastrophic dangers.”
Prime Minister Andrew Holness said there is no infrastructure that can handle a Category 5 hurricane, and the World Meteorological Organization’s tropical‑cyclone specialist Anne‑Claire Fontan called Melissa “the storm of the century.” This is the strongest wave to hit Jamaica since records began in 1850.
The last major hurricane, Gilbert, hit in 1988 as a Category 3 and destroyed about 20 % of the island’s buildings.
Melissa is expected to leave Jamaica by Wednesday, then move toward southern Cuba, the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, and the western coast of Haiti. The United States will likely avoid a direct hit, but Florida residents may face rough seas and strong rip currents.
The Caribbean is bracing for a wave of flooding, power outages, and widespread damage as Melissa rolls across the region. Stay informed and follow local evacuation orders to stay safe.
Source: New York Post
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