Hurricane Melissa Upgraded to Category 5, Hits Jamaica Hard

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — Hurricane Melissa intensified to Category 5 strength Monday as it approached Jamaica, bringing up to 30 inches of rain and a life-threatening storm surge. The hurricane is expected to make landfall on the island Tuesday and then cross Cuba and the Bahamas through Wednesday.

As of Monday, Melissa was centered about 130 miles south-southwest of Kingston and had maximum sustained winds of 160 mph, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami. The storm is moving west at a slow pace of 3 mph. Category 5 is the highest level on the Saffir-Simpson scale, characterized by winds exceeding 157 mph.

Local areas of eastern Jamaica could see as much as 40 inches of rain, while western Haiti may receive about 16 inches. This heavy rainfall is expected to lead to catastrophic flash flooding and numerous landslides, the center warned.

At least three people have already died in Haiti due to the storm, while one person in the Dominican Republic remains missing. Jamaican officials are urging residents to take this hurricane seriously. “Do not gamble with Melissa. It’s not a safe bet,” said Desmond McKenzie, deputy chairman of Jamaica’s Disaster Risk Management Council.

Melissa is anticipated to inflict extensive damage, as cleanup and damage assessments may be significantly delayed due to the likelihood of landslides, flooding, and blocked roads. The storm is predicted to generate a life-threatening storm surge on Jamaica’s southern coast, with peaks around 13 feet above ground level.

Authorities in the Dominican Republic closed schools and government offices in four provinces still under red alert as heavy rains have already caused significant damage. More than 750 homes across the country were affected, displacing over 3,760 people. Floodwaters have also cut access to at least 48 communities.

In Haiti, Melissa destroyed crops in three regions, exacerbating food insecurity as over half the population, approximately 5.7 million people, experience hunger. The storm poses severe risks to harvests and agriculture in the southern parts of both Haiti and the Dominican Republic in the coming days.