Hurricane Melissa, now the strongest storm of the year, is poised to strike Jamaica, bringing with it catastrophic and life-threatening conditions. The hurricane, with sustained winds of 175 mph, has been moving northward at a slow pace of around 7 mph, prolonging the period of extreme weather exposure. Meteorologists warn that Melissa could still be a Category 5 hurricane upon landfall, though the exact timing remains uncertain. Thousands of Jamaicans have already been evacuated, but the slow approach has left many in a state of prolonged anxiety and uncertainty. Forecasters predict that Melissa could become the strongest hurricane ever to hit Jamaica, with up to 30 inches of rain and a potential 13-foot storm surge along the southern coast. Similar impacts are expected in parts of Cuba, where rainfall could reach 25 inches and storm surges up to 11 feet. Residents in Kingston describe terrifying conditions, with one British woman reporting a ‘weird roar’ and a Jamaican man noting that the winds are so strong that standing up would be impossible.