Hurricane Melissa intensifies to category 5 as Jamaica braces for catastrophic impact

Hurricane Melissa strengthened into a Category 5 storm early Monday as it closed in on Jamaica, bringing forecasts of up to 30 inches (76 centimeters) of rain and a life-threatening storm surge that could devastate parts of the island. The U.S. National Hurricane Center reported that Melissa was located about 130 miles (205 kilometers) south-southwest of Kingston, Jamaica, with maximum sustained winds reaching 160 mph (260 kph) as it crept westward at just 3 mph (6 kph). Meteorologists warned that the storm’s slow pace could dramatically worsen flooding and landslides across the region.

Melissa, now the strongest hurricane to directly hit Jamaica in recent history, is expected to make landfall on Tuesday before continuing across eastern Cuba and the Bahamas through midweek. Some eastern areas of Jamaica could see up to 40 inches (1 meter) of rainfall, while parts of western Haiti may receive 16 inches (40 centimeters).

Authorities have already confirmed four deaths linked to the storm — three in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic — with another person reported missing. Officials across the Caribbean are warning residents to evacuate low-lying areas and secure their homes. “This is not a safe bet,” cautioned Desmond McKenzie, deputy chairman of Jamaica’s Disaster Risk Management Council. “Do not gamble with Melissa.”

Hurricane warnings are in effect for Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, and Holguin provinces in eastern Cuba, where up to 20 inches (51 centimeters) of rain and destructive storm surges are expected. The slow-moving system has already inundated parts of Hispaniola, damaging more than 750 homes in the Dominican Republic and displacing over 3,700 people. Floodwaters have cut access to dozens of communities.

In Haiti, the storm has wiped out crops in multiple regions, worsening the nation’s ongoing food crisis. The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization warned that flooding is blocking access to farmland and markets, threatening future harvests and food security for millions.

Meteorologists in Jamaica say Melissa could bring the island’s most severe storm in decades. A storm surge as high as 13 feet (4 meters) is possible along Jamaica’s southern coast, particularly east of where the hurricane makes landfall. “We are in a very, very serious time over the next few days,” said Transport Minister Daryl Vaz, urging residents to heed evacuation orders.

As the Caribbean braces for Melissa’s impact, emergency crews are preparing for widespread flooding, power outages, and infrastructure damage, with recovery efforts expected to be hampered by blocked roads and landslides once the storm passes.