Hurricane Melissa, the most powerful storm of the year, is on the brink of reaching Jamaica, according to the National Hurricane Center. This Category 5 hurricane, with sustained winds reaching 175mph, is currently causing flash flooding and storm surges in the Caribbean island. Although still some distance away, the storm is accelerating, and it is anticipated to make landfall around midday local time (5pm GMT). Meteorologists are predicting that Melissa could become the most intense hurricane ever experienced in Jamaica, potentially bringing up to 30 inches of rainfall alongside 175mph winds.
The Met Office has indicated that Hurricane Melissa might impact the weather in the UK. A spokesperson informed Yahoo News UK that the hurricane is likely to lose its tropical characteristics in the North Atlantic and eventually dissipate as a separate system later in the week. While there is a slight possibility that the remnants of Melissa could influence the weather in the UK next week, any significant disruptions are currently deemed improbable. Nonetheless, the system could contribute to sustaining the prevailing unsettled weather conditions in the UK.
Following its impact on Jamaica, Melissa is expected to advance towards eastern Cuba by Tuesday evening (12pm GMT), prompting the evacuation of over 500,000 individuals from areas prone to flooding and high winds. Subsequently, the hurricane is projected to progress towards the Bahamas by Wednesday, weakening to a Category 2 storm by that time.
Melissa has already caused casualties in Jamaica, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic, with reports of three fatalities in Jamaica and four in the neighboring countries. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies estimates that up to 1.5 million people in Jamaica could be affected, including around 25,000 tourists currently on the island.
Director of the US National Hurricane Center, Michael Brennan, has cautioned that the impending scenario will be extremely perilous, with the potential for total building failures. Brennan highlighted that wind gusts of up to 200mph could impact Jamaica’s highest mountains, emphasizing that Melissa is likely to reach eastern Cuba during Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning.
Maps tracking the storm’s progression indicate that Melissa will head towards the North Atlantic, skirting the eastern point of Canada. Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has warned that the island’s infrastructure may not withstand the severe conditions of the storm.
Experts have linked the intensification of Caribbean hurricanes to the worsening climate crisis. Researchers at Climate Central observed that Melissa rapidly strengthened due to ocean temperatures 1.4C above average, conditions significantly influenced by climate change.
The hurricane has been named Melissa following the naming protocol set by the US National Hurricane Center and the World Meteorological Organization for tropical storms. Names are rotated on a six-year cycle and are only retired if a storm causes significant devastation.