The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has warned that Jamaica faces a potentially catastrophic situation as Hurricane Melissa makes landfall, bringing gusts exceeding 300km/h, along with flash flooding and landslides, in what could be the island’s most powerful storm this century.
“It’s a catastrophic situation expected in Jamaica,” WMO tropical cyclone specialist Anne-Claire Fontan told a Geneva press briefing, reports RTE.
“For Jamaica, it will be the storm of the century for sure,” reports RTE.
According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the hurricane could directly affect around 1.5 million people in Jamaica alone.
“1.5 million people may be impacted,” Necephor Mghendi, the IFRC’s head of delegation for the English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean, told reporters in Geneva from Trinidad and Tobago, warning that number could be “an underestimate”, reports RTE.
Officials in Jamaica have urged residents to move to higher ground and make use of designated shelters, with the prime minister warning that the storm could bring overwhelming destruction.
The Category 5 hurricane—potentially the most intense ever recorded on the island—is moving slowly across the Caribbean, already blamed for three deaths in Jamaica, three in Haiti, and one in the Dominican Republic, reports RTE.
The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) stated that Melissa remained about 240km from Kingston late yesterday, generating maximum sustained winds of 280km/h.
Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs has advised Irish citizens in Jamaica to seek safe shelter and adhere to local authority guidance, reports RTE.
Meteorologists predicted the storm would make landfall early tomorrow, sweeping diagonally across the island from St Elizabeth parish in the south to St Ann parish in the north.
Forecasters warned that its intense rainfall and fierce winds could cause destruction comparable to historical hurricanes such as Maria in 2017 and Katrina in 2005, which devastated Puerto Rico and New Orleans respectively, reports RTE.
Experts say that human-driven climate change is fueling an increase in the frequency and severity of such extreme weather events across the region.
Local government minister Desmond McKenzie said last night that while Jamaica has roughly 880 emergency shelters ready, only 133 were occupied by residents, reports RTE.
They “should be seeing people now”, Mr McKenzie said, adding: “I want to urge persons in these parishes to get to high ground as quickly as possible,” reports RTE.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness warned that Jamaica’s western regions are likely to endure the worst impact of the storm.
“I don’t believe there is any infrastructure within this region that could withstand a Category 5 storm, so there could be significant dislocation,” he told CNN, reports RTE.
Despite repeated evacuation pleas, many locals have chosen to remain in their homes.
“I am not moving. I don’t believe I can run from death,” Roy Brown said in Kingston’s seaside area of Port Royal, reports RTE.
The plumber and tiler explained that his reluctance to leave stemmed from previous experiences with inadequate conditions at government hurricane shelters.
Fisherwoman Jennifer Ramdial agreed, adding: “I just don’t want to leave,” reports RTE.
Mr Holness emphasized during a press briefing that the evacuation effort was essential for the greater public good and the preservation of life.
“You have been warned. It’s now up to you to use that information to make the right decision,” he said, reports RTE.
Melissa’s strength is exacerbated by its unusually slow pace—moving at just 4km/h, slower than most people walk.
This means that areas in its path could experience prolonged exposure to its destructive winds and rain, reports RTE.
The NHC warned of “catastrophic” flash flooding, landslides, and damaging winds likely to cause extended power and communication outages as well as “widespread infrastructural damage.”
Meteorologists forecast up to 100cm of rainfall, with flash flooding and landslides predicted in Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba, reports RTE.
Jamaica’s southern coast is also bracing for a storm surge that could raise sea levels by four metres, accompanied by “destructive waves.”
In the farming community of Flagaman in St Elizabeth, residents gathered inside a small shop for shelter.
Owner Enrico Coke said he opened the store out of concern for neighbours who had nowhere else to go: “I’m concerned about farmers, the fishermen will be suffering after this,” reports RTE.
“We’ll need help as soon as possible, especially water for the people,” reports RTE.
Once it moves past Jamaica, Melissa is expected to strike eastern Cuba tomorrow night.
Officials said yesterday that three people in Jamaica died while preparing for the storm—two while cutting tree branches and another while working on a ladder, reports RTE.
In the Dominican Republic, authorities confirmed that a 79-year-old man was swept away in a stream and died, while a 13-year-old boy remains missing.
Haiti’s civil protection agency reported three fatalities over the weekend due to storm-related conditions, reports RTE.
Meteorologist Kerry Emanuel said global warming is leading to more storms that intensify rapidly, like Melissa, increasing the risk of extreme rainfall.
“Water kills a lot more people than wind,” he said, reports RTE.
The last major hurricane to hit Jamaica was Beryl in July 2024, an unusually powerful storm for that time of year.
“Human-caused climate change is making all of the worst aspects of Hurricane Melissa even worse,” said climate scientist Daniel Gilford, reports RTE.
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