Catastrophic flooding expected as powerful Hurricane Melissa nears Jamaica

 

A Hurricane Warning remains in effect for Jamaica as the Category 5 system continues on a trajectory towards the island ahead of landfall. 

 

At 8 a.m. Tuesday the centre of Hurricane Melissa was located near 90 kilometres or 55 miles west- southwest of Kingston or 120 kilometres or 75 miles south of Negril Point. 

 

The hurricane is moving toward the north-northeast near 11 kilometres per hour or 7 miles per hour. On the forecast track the core of Melissa is expected to make landfall on Jamaica in the next several hours on Tuesday. 

 

Doppler radar and satellite images show that the outer bands of Hurricane Melissa cover most of Jamaica and have been producing moderate to heavy rainfall over the island. Amounts exceeding 100 millimetres or 4 inches have been recorded in parts of southern parishes. 

 

The hurricane is expected to produce rainfall amounts reaching 350 to 750 millimetres or 15 to 30 inches over parts of the island in the next few days, especially over central and eastern parishes with higher amounts over hilly terrain. Catastrophic flash floods and landslides are likely. 

 

The National Hurricane Center recommended that persons protect themselves from wind by putting "as many walls as possible between you and the outside". It said an interior room without windows, ideally one where you can also avoid falling trees, is the safest place you can be in a building, adding that persons can cover themselves with a mattress and wear a helmet for added protection.

 

It warned that failure to adequately shelter may result in serious injury, and loss of life.