Major Hurricane Melissa has made landfall over southwestern Jamaica, doing so as one of the strongest hurricanes on record for the Atlantic basin. At 1 pm Eastern Time, the National Hurricane Center declared Melissa made landfall near New Hope with estimated maximum sustained winds of 185 mph and an estimated minimum central pressure of 892 mb or 26.34″.
With that pressure and wind, Melissa is the third most powerful hurricane recorded in the Atlantic basin, with only 2005’s Wilma and 1988’s Gilbert having slightly lower central pressure. Melissa is the most powerful hurricane recorded to strike Jamaica, far worse than the old record-holder, Hurricane Gilbert, which smashed through the island with 130 mph winds in 1988.
The National Hurricane Center warns: ” THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION! Do not leave your shelter as the eye passes over, as winds will quickly, and rapidly increase on the other side of the eye. Residents should remain in place through the passage of these life-threatening conditions. To protect yourself from wind, the best thing you can do is put as many walls as possible between you and the outside. An interior room without windows, ideally one where you can also avoid falling trees, is the safest place you can be in a building. You can cover yourself with a mattress and wear a helmet for added protection.
Right now, Hurricane Melissa is at 18.1N 78.0W which is 25 miles southeast of Negril, Jamaica and about 145 miles south of Guantanamo, Cuba. The storm is moving to the north-northeast at 9 mph.
The storm has lashed Jamaica with heavy rain for days, with many areas getting more than 3 feet with more on the way.
Melissa is expected to reach southeastern Cuba as an extremely dangerous major hurricane, and it will still be a strong hurricane when it moves across the southeastern Bahamas. For that reason, in addition to Jamaica, Hurricane Warnings are up for the Cuban provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo, Holguin, and Las Tunas, and for the entire southeastern and central Bahamas. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Haiti, the Cuban province of Camaguey, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
“Interests in Bermuda should monitor the progress of Melissa,” warns the National Hurricane Center, adding that watches could be required later today or tonight.
