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Hurricane Melissa has grown into a strong Category 4 storm, with winds around 140 mph, and is heading for Jamaica and Haiti.
It is expected to cause dangerous and possibly “catastrophic” floods and landslides when it hits Jamaica on Monday night.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said the hurricane intensified very quickly over the weekend and could even reach Category 5 strength.
People in Jamaica have been told to find shelter right away, as power cuts, damaged buildings, and blocked roads are likely. The storm is moving slowly, which means rain will fall for a long time in the same places. Some areas could get as much as 40 inches of rain.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) warned of deadly floods and landslides in Jamaica and Hispaniola, which includes Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Jamaica is under a hurricane warning, while southwestern Haiti and Cuba are under a hurricane watch.
Evan Thompson, from Jamaica’s Meteorological Service, told the Jamaica Observer that Melissa could be worse than major hurricanes like Gilbert in 1988 and Beryl in 2024. He said people in coastal areas such as Kingston, St. Thomas, and Clarendon should prepare for storm surges.
Experts say Jamaica’s low-lying coastal flood risk is limited, but the inland flood danger is very high because of the heavy rainfall.
The NHC also warned of massive flooding and landslides in southwestern Haiti and the Dominican Republic. So far, at least four people have died — three in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic.
This hurricane comes during what was expected to be a quiet season. It follows last year’s destructive U.S. hurricanes, Helene and Milton. The Trump Administration recently cut NOAA’s climate disaster database, which had tracked such storms.
For now, Melissa’s path does not threaten the U.S., though parts of Florida may see rough surf and rip currents later in the week.
Source: National Hurricane Center.
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