Hurricane Melissa Becomes Category 5 as Jamaica Faces Historic Threat
Hurricane Melissa strengthened into a Category 5 storm Monday as it neared Jamaica, threatening catastrophic flooding, landslides, and widespread destruction. If it makes landfall at current strength, it would be the strongest hurricane ever recorded to hit the island since 1851.
The storm has already caused seven deaths across the northern Caribbean and is expected to strike Jamaica Tuesday before moving on to Cuba and the Bahamas. Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness said he had been “on [his] knees in prayer” as the nation prepared.
Residents in Kingston boarded windows, stocked supplies, and sought shelter, though many chose to stay behind despite evacuation orders. “I hear what they say, but I’m not leaving,” said 64-year-old fisherman Noel Francis.
Melissa packed winds of 175 mph (280 kph) Monday night, moving northwest at just 2 mph (4 kph), with forecasters warning of up to 30 inches (76 cm) of rain in eastern Jamaica and 16 inches (40 cm) in western Haiti. A storm surge up to 13 feet (4 m) threatened Kingston’s coastline, home to Jamaica’s main airport and power plants.
Officials warned that fewer than 1,000 people had taken refuge in shelters, far below what’s needed for a Category 5 storm. Power outages and flooding were already reported.
Cuba ordered the evacuation of more than 600,000 people, and hurricane warnings extended to the Bahamas. Melissa has damaged hundreds of homes in the Dominican Republic and destroyed crops in Haiti, worsening food insecurity.
Melissa is the 13th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30.
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