Hurricane Melissa Strikes: 175 mph Winds Threaten Jamaica NOW

UPDATE: Hurricane Melissa has escalated into the strongest storm on the planet this year, with sustained winds reaching a staggering 175 mph. This powerful hurricane is now posing an imminent threat to Jamaica, where its worst impacts are expected to begin just after midnight tonight.

As Hurricane Melissa crawls northwest at a perilously slow pace of just 2 mph, the National Hurricane Center warns that the storm’s effects will linger, bringing damaging winds, flash flooding, and a catastrophic storm surge. Residents of Jamaica are urged to prepare for tropical-storm-force winds exceeding 73 mph and hurricane conditions starting before sunrise on October 3, 2023.

The destruction could be severe, with projections indicating up to 40 inches of rain and a staggering 13 feet of storm surge. Jamaica’s Minister of Labour and Social Security, Pearnel Charles, has issued urgent evacuation orders, stating, “This is a directive to save your life,” as the nation braces for “extreme devastation and danger.”

The human impact is already being felt, with reports of casualties in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The United Nations is mobilizing resources to assist in the affected areas, with personnel set to deploy to both Jamaica and Cuba this week.

“Melissa is very slow, very intense, and the outcome could be catastrophic,” Charles cautioned in an interview. Buses are being dispatched to transport vulnerable individuals to emergency shelters across the country.

As Hurricane Melissa approaches, the storm is also expected to maintain its intensity as it moves toward eastern Cuba, threatening to unleash further destruction. While a strong cold front is expected to protect the U.S. coastline, Melissa’s presence will still create hazardous conditions, including dangerous rip currents along the East Coast.

Residents along the East Coast should remain vigilant as rough seas and increased risks from the storm will persist through the weekend, despite Melissa’s path avoiding a direct hit on the mainland U.S.

Stay tuned for live updates as we monitor Hurricane Melissa’s trajectory and impact on Jamaica and the surrounding regions.