Hurricane Melissa Ravages the Caribbean with Record-Breaking Force
Category 5 Hurricane Melissa has become the most powerful storm on Earth this year. The system reached winds of 175 mph with stronger gusts, after undergoing rapid intensification over the weekend.
Melissa’s outer bands are already battering Jamaica with heavy rain and violent winds. Officials confirmed mandatory evacuation orders for low-lying coastal zones as the storm moves closer. The hurricane has already killed three people each in Haiti and Jamaica, and one person in the Dominican Republic.
The National Hurricane Center warned of “extensive infrastructure damage” from extreme flooding and wind destruction. Rainfall could reach 40 inches, with storm surges up to 13 feet and sustained winds near 160 mph. Many areas face a complete loss of power and communication.
Emergency crews in Jamaica are working around the clock. Minister Robert Morgan said responders cleared most blocked roads but warned of new landslides and rock falls. “We continue to urge people to stay indoors and remain alert,” he said.
Of the more than 800 emergency shelters across Jamaica, only 76 are currently in use, housing about 970 residents. Minister Desmond McKenzie said more families are expected to seek refuge as the storm nears.
Meteorologists say the hurricane is moving northwest at just 2 mph, meaning its impact will be prolonged. The eye is projected to reach Jamaica’s southern coast early Tuesday morning.
Tropical-storm-force winds up to 73 mph will hit the island after midnight, with full hurricane conditions arriving before sunrise. Gusts could top 200 mph, especially in higher elevations.
Experts warn that Melissa’s slow pace will intensify its destruction, causing extended periods of wind damage, flash floods, and coastal inundation. The storm’s center may not yet have made landfall, but its catastrophic effects are already unfolding across Jamaica.
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