photo by National Hurricane Center in Miami
At 11:00 AM EDT, Hurricane Melissa was located at latitude 16.4 N and longitude 76.6 W, moving west at 3 mph. The hurricane is expected to approach Jamaica on Tuesday, southeastern Cuba Tuesday night, and the southeastern Bahamas on Wednesday. With maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, Melissa is a category 4 hurricane, likely to intensify further.
Key hazards include:
-
Wind: Tropical storm conditions are occurring in Jamaica; hurricane conditions expected Monday.
-
Rainfall: Southern Hispaniola and Jamaica may see 15-30 inches of rain, leading to flash flooding and landslides. Eastern Cuba may receive 10-15 inches.
-
Storm Surge: Life-threatening surge along Jamaica’s south coast could reach 9-13 feet; significant surge potential in Cuba.
-
Surf: Dangerous swells are expected to affect Hispaniola, Jamaica, and Cuba.
For detailed forecasts, refer to the National Weather Service.
Boy oh boy. This sounds ferocious. Hope everyone is taking this seriously
These storms are getting stronger and lasting longer. Climate change is no longer a debate , it’s our reality.