Hurricane Melissa Threatens Catastrophic Impact on Jamaica as Category 4 Storm

Hurricane Melissa strengthened into a major Category 4 storm on Sunday, October 26, threatening to bring catastrophic flooding and landslides to Jamaica and parts of the northern Caribbean.

The storm, which registered maximum sustained winds of up to 145 mph (233 km/h), was centered just over 100 miles south of Kingston, Jamaica, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC). Forecasters urged residents on the island to seek shelter immediately, noting that conditions were expected to deteriorate rapidly.

Melissa is forecast to make landfall on the southern coast of Jamaica late Monday or early Tuesday morning. Experts noted that the storm could intensify further, potentially reaching the rare classification of a Category 5 hurricane, which requires winds exceeding 157 mph (252 km/h).

Even if Melissa weakens slightly to a high-end Category 4 before impact, the NHC warned that there would be "very little practical difference in the overall impacts." The storm is expected to deliver life-threatening conditions, including up to 30 inches (76 cm) of rain and sea level surges as high as 13 feet (4 meters) above ground level. These conditions pose a severe risk of flash flooding and landslides across Jamaica and Southern Hispaniola.

Following its passage over Jamaica, the storm is forecast to cross eastern Cuba late Tuesday or early Wednesday before moving toward the Bahamas and eventually dissipating in the North Atlantic Ocean, according to projections.

In response to the approaching threat, the Jamaican government issued evacuation orders on Sunday for several localities, including parts of the capital, Kingston. Authorities announced that 881 shelters were prepared across the country of 2.8 million inhabitants to receive displaced residents.

Jamaican officials urged citizens to take the threat seriously, preparing for widespread power cuts and damage to critical infrastructure. Jamie Rhome, the NHC's deputy director, advised residents to "be ready to ride this out for several days."

Forecasters noted that Hurricane Melissa could become one of the strongest storms to ever make landfall in Jamaica's recorded history.

NHC records, which date back to 1850, indicate that Jamaica has only been hit by one Category 4 storm: Hurricane Gilbert in 1988. Gilbert, known locally as "Wild Gilbert," made landfall near Kingston with maximum sustained winds just qualifying for Category 4 status. That storm tore across the island, resulting in 45 fatalities and displacing an estimated 500,000 people, roughly one-fifth of the nation's population at the time. The storm also caused widespread shutdowns of the island's power and water systems.