Hurricane Melissa has rapidly intensified into a catastrophic Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph, becoming one of the most dangerous storms to threaten the Caribbean this season, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft data confirms Melissa’s explosive strengthening, with minimum central pressure dropping to 917 mb. The storm is located approximately 130 miles south-southwest of Kingston, Jamaica, moving west at just 3 mph.
Some additional strengthening is forecast today before Melissa makes landfall on Jamaica early Tuesday as a powerful major hurricane. Destructive winds and storm surge conditions will worsen throughout the day and into tonight.
A Hurricane Warning remains in effect for the eastern Cuban provinces including Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo, and Holguin. The Bahamas government has issued a Hurricane Watch for the central and southeastern Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands. A Tropical Storm Warning covers all of Haiti.
Flash flooding is likely across Jamaica with 15 to 30 inches of rainfall expected, with local maxima reaching 40 inches. Eastern Cuba faces storm totals of 10 to 15 inches, with local amounts to 20 inches.
Life-threatening storm surge of 9 to 13 feet above ground level will impact Jamaica’s south coast tonight and Tuesday, accompanied by large destructive waves. Southeastern Cuba could see surge heights of 6 to 9 feet late Tuesday or Wednesday.
Hurricane-force winds extend 30 miles from the center, with tropical-storm-force winds reaching 195 miles outward.