Hurricane Melissa is actively impacting Jamaica as of today, with landfall having occurred this afternoon. Forecasters expect extremely dangerous conditions to continue, including catastrophic winds, heavy rainfall, and life-threatening floods and landslides, before Melissa proceeds toward Cuba and eventually the Bahamas. Immediate safety actions and adherence to local authorities’ evacuation and sheltering orders remain essential. Key points to know now
- Where Melissa stands: Jamaica has already experienced a direct, powerful landfall as a Category 5 hurricane, with sustained winds near 185 mph and dangerous storm surge estimates. Conditions remain life-threatening across large portions of the island as the core passes overhead and spirals inland. [web results indicate Jamaica landfall and current high-wind conditions]
- What this means for Jamaica: The combination of extreme winds, torrential rain, and storm surge threatens widespread damage, infrastructure failures, and significant flooding and landslides. Authorities have warned residents to stay sheltered and avoid travel in affected areas.
- What comes next: After Jamaica, the system is forecast to move into southeastern Cuba and then toward the Bahamas region, with the overall track remaining to the north-northeast and the intensity remaining very high through the next 24–48 hours as it moves along its path.
- Public guidance: Follow official updates from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and local emergency management for evacuation orders, shelter procedures, and weather advisories. Do not attempt to travel through areas under warning or watch, and ensure emergency kits, communication plans, and safe shelter locations are in place.
If you’d like, I can pull in the latest official advisories and summarize them (with specific arrival times, rain totals, and point-by-point safety guidance) or provide a brief situation report for a particular area (e.g., Kingston area vs. rural parishes).
