"Hurricane Melissa Threatens Jamaica, Haiti with Life-Threatening Flash Flooding and Landslides"
A powerful Category 4 hurricane, Hurricane Melissa, has intensified rapidly in the Caribbean, posing a significant threat to Jamaica and parts of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), the storm's core is currently located approximately 115 miles south-southwest of Kingston, Jamaica, and 290 miles south-southwest of Guantanamo, Cuba.
With maximum sustained winds reaching 145 mph, Melissa is expected to bring catastrophic flash flooding and landslides to the region over the next few days. The NHC has issued a hurricane warning for Jamaica, while a hurricane watch and tropical storm warning have been issued for parts of Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
Experts warn that Jamaica, particularly, is likely to bear the worst of the storm's impact. "The island's terrain makes it even worse," said CBS News meteorologist Andrew Kozak. "Jamaica's mountains force the air to rise, and that creates more rain." The strongest hurricane to hit Jamaica was Gilbert in 1988, which killed 45 people and caused over $700 million in damage.
Melissa is expected to move near or over Jamaica during the weekend through Tuesday, across southeastern Cuba by Tuesday night, and then across the southeastern Bahamas by the middle of the week. When the storm makes landfall, peak storm surge accompanied by destructive waves could reach 9 to 13 feet above ground level, according to the NHC.
Residents in affected areas are advised to take necessary precautions, including evacuating non-essential personnel from the region and preparing for potential mudslides and catastrophic rainfall. "Each individual will be allowed one 40-pound bag and a carry-on item," said the Naval Station Guantanamo Bay on social media.
Rainfall forecasts indicate that Melissa is expected to drop up to 30 inches of rain on parts of southern Haiti, the southern Dominican Republic, and Jamaica through Tuesday, with higher amounts possible in some areas. Eastern Cuba could see up to 18 inches of rain.
The situation remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: Hurricane Melissa poses a significant threat to the Caribbean region, particularly Jamaica and its neighboring islands.
A powerful Category 4 hurricane, Hurricane Melissa, has intensified rapidly in the Caribbean, posing a significant threat to Jamaica and parts of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), the storm's core is currently located approximately 115 miles south-southwest of Kingston, Jamaica, and 290 miles south-southwest of Guantanamo, Cuba.
With maximum sustained winds reaching 145 mph, Melissa is expected to bring catastrophic flash flooding and landslides to the region over the next few days. The NHC has issued a hurricane warning for Jamaica, while a hurricane watch and tropical storm warning have been issued for parts of Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
Experts warn that Jamaica, particularly, is likely to bear the worst of the storm's impact. "The island's terrain makes it even worse," said CBS News meteorologist Andrew Kozak. "Jamaica's mountains force the air to rise, and that creates more rain." The strongest hurricane to hit Jamaica was Gilbert in 1988, which killed 45 people and caused over $700 million in damage.
Melissa is expected to move near or over Jamaica during the weekend through Tuesday, across southeastern Cuba by Tuesday night, and then across the southeastern Bahamas by the middle of the week. When the storm makes landfall, peak storm surge accompanied by destructive waves could reach 9 to 13 feet above ground level, according to the NHC.
Residents in affected areas are advised to take necessary precautions, including evacuating non-essential personnel from the region and preparing for potential mudslides and catastrophic rainfall. "Each individual will be allowed one 40-pound bag and a carry-on item," said the Naval Station Guantanamo Bay on social media.
Rainfall forecasts indicate that Melissa is expected to drop up to 30 inches of rain on parts of southern Haiti, the southern Dominican Republic, and Jamaica through Tuesday, with higher amounts possible in some areas. Eastern Cuba could see up to 18 inches of rain.
The situation remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: Hurricane Melissa poses a significant threat to the Caribbean region, particularly Jamaica and its neighboring islands.
... they're gonna get hammered by that hurricane! I mean, 145 mph winds are no joke 
. And it's not just the wind speed, it's the flash flooding too... 30 inches of rain in some areas? That's insane 
. I don't think Jamaica is prepared for something like this 
. They need to get those people evacuated ASAP and stock up on supplies or else they'll be stuck with nothin' 
. And what about the landlides? I've seen some crazy mudslides in my day, but 9-13 feet of storm surge? That's just ridiculous 
. I hope everyone stays safe out there 
.
, this is not good for those people in Jamaica and Haiti... They're gonna get slammed with like, super heavy rain and mudslides 
It's crazy that they have to deal with this at the same time as Hurricane Melissa is coming their way. I hope everyone can stay safe and take care of themselves, you know? 
The fact that they have to evacuate and prepare for all this is just so stressful... And the thought of 30 inches of rain in some areas? 
That's wild. 
. I mean, who doesn't love the idea of evacuating at the last minute just to avoid getting swept away by 100mph winds? Sounds like a blast 
. But seriously, these countries are always the most vulnerable when it comes to natural disasters because they're so prone to... let's call it "Mother Nature's wrath" 
. And the worst part is that folks are still getting caught off guard, no preparations in place just for a quick social media notice 
. Still hoping those hurricane warnings don't turn into actual emergencies 
.
, and Haiti's got nothing on that, fam. 30 inches of rain? That's like, a lot... I can already imagine the mudslides, the flooding, the whole nine yards 
.
especially with the flash flooding and landslides it's a big deal 
i just hope everyone is safe and sound 
. The terrain in Jamaica does make it a high-risk area for flash flooding and landslides - fingers crossed that they're able to prepare and respond quickly enough 
. Stay safe, Jamaica! 
hope everyone gets evacuated and prepared for the worst 
. I remember watching hurricanes from the news when I was a kid, and it's always been this massive storm warning thing, but never like this 
.
gotta think about this one... so hurricane melissa just shows up outta nowhere like that? i mean, how did it even start in the first place? was it some kind of experiment gone wrong? or was it created by some secret organization to test their disaster response plans? 
. So, Hurricane Melissa is a Category 4 storm, that's true. But, it's not like it's gonna be the worst hurricane to hit Jamaica or anything, it's just more powerful than Gilbert in '88, which killed 45 people and caused $700 million in damage... and that was like, over 35 years ago 
. And don't even get me started on the rainfall forecasts... up to 30 inches in some areas? That's like, crazy heavy rain 
. We need to be more specific with our weather warnings and not just throw around vague numbers.
And the fact that it's gonna bring catastrophic flash flooding and landslides is just terrifying. I mean, I know Jamaica's got some beautiful mountains and all, but does that really make it more prone to getting hit by a hurricane? 
I guess it's good to be prepared and all, but man... this hurricane is looking like a real beast.