KINGSTON, Jamaica — The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) has issued a dire warning as Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, approaches Jamaica. The NHC predicts that ‘catastrophic’ and ‘life-threatening’ hurricane-force winds will begin battering the island nation Monday night, persisting into early Tuesday. Tropical storm conditions are already underway, with the eyewall expected to cause total structural failure, particularly in elevated regions where wind speeds could surge by up to 30%. As of the latest update, Hurricane Melissa was positioned near latitude 16.4 north and longitude 78.2 west, moving westward at three miles per hour. The storm is anticipated to shift northwest and north later Monday, accelerating northeastward on Tuesday. Its trajectory suggests Melissa will sweep over Jamaica Monday night and early Tuesday, southeastern Cuba Tuesday night, and the southeastern Bahamas on Wednesday. With maximum sustained winds nearing 165 mph (270 km/h) and higher gusts, Melissa remains a formidable threat. The NHC cautions that intensity fluctuations are likely before the hurricane makes landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday.
#EyeOnMelissa: Hurricane-force winds to begin tonight as Melissa moves over Jamaica
