Hurricane Melissa might be strongest to ever hit Jamaica

[ad_1] <img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/1e13/live/9c4a7270-b322-11f0-8419-83f831593ad2.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/1e13/live/9c4a7270-b322-11f0-8419-83f831593ad2.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/1e13/live/9c4a7270-b322-11f0-8419-83f831593ad2.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/1e13/live/9c4a7270-b322-11f0-8419-83f831593ad2.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/1e13/live/9c4a7270-b322-11f0-8419-83f831593ad2.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/1e13/live/9c4a7270-b322-11f0-8419-83f831593ad2.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/1e13/live/9c4a7270-b322-11f0-8419-83f831593ad2.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/1e13/live/9c4a7270-b322-11f0-8419-83f831593ad2.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="REUTERS/Octavio Jones Two men wearing t-shirts, trousers and hats throw a sandbag into the back of a pick-up truck. Piles of bags and sand are seen behind them, along with a building painted yellow and a sign that reads Highway Hardware." class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> REUTERS/Octavio Jones Residents in Kingston put together for the storm with sandbags

Individuals in Jamaica are bracing for the influence of Hurricane Melissa, which is forecast to unleash damaging winds and convey catastrophic flooding to the Caribbean nation within the coming hours.

Melissa was upgraded to a class 5 hurricane - the utmost power - early on Monday, the US-based Nationwide Hurricane Middle (NHC) mentioned.

The authorities concern that Melissa, which has already been blamed for the deaths of 4 individuals on the island of Hispaniola, may develop into the strongest hurricane ever to hit Jamaica.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/dafc/live/329ee3f0-b31e-11f0-97c8-db772e271405.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/dafc/live/329ee3f0-b31e-11f0-97c8-db772e271405.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/dafc/live/329ee3f0-b31e-11f0-97c8-db772e271405.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/dafc/live/329ee3f0-b31e-11f0-97c8-db772e271405.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/dafc/live/329ee3f0-b31e-11f0-97c8-db772e271405.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/dafc/live/329ee3f0-b31e-11f0-97c8-db772e271405.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/dafc/live/329ee3f0-b31e-11f0-97c8-db772e271405.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/dafc/live/329ee3f0-b31e-11f0-97c8-db772e271405.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="REUTERS/Gilbert Bellamy Waves break on the coast ahead of Hurricane Melissa, in Port Royal, Jamaica, on 25 October, 2025. " class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> REUTERS/Gilbert Bellamy Large waves have been already breaking on the coast of Jamaica on Saturday, a storm surge is anticipated afterward Monday and into Tuesday

The Jamaican authorities has ordered evacuations for elements of the capital, Kingston, and the whole island has been classed as "threatened".

An replace from the NHC at 09:00GMT mentioned that Melissa was about 130 miles (209km) south-southwest of Kingston, Jamaica.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/7ca7/live/8ef0d980-b32b-11f0-ba75-093eca1ac29b.png.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/7ca7/live/8ef0d980-b32b-11f0-ba75-093eca1ac29b.png.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/7ca7/live/8ef0d980-b32b-11f0-ba75-093eca1ac29b.png.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/7ca7/live/8ef0d980-b32b-11f0-ba75-093eca1ac29b.png.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/7ca7/live/8ef0d980-b32b-11f0-ba75-093eca1ac29b.png.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/7ca7/live/8ef0d980-b32b-11f0-ba75-093eca1ac29b.png.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/7ca7/live/8ef0d980-b32b-11f0-ba75-093eca1ac29b.png.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/7ca7/live/8ef0d980-b32b-11f0-ba75-093eca1ac29b.png.webp" loading="lazy" alt="A graphic shows the predicted path of Hurricane Melissa, forecast to make landfall in Jamaica at 20:00EDT on Tuesday, to then go over Cuba, and the Bahamas at 20:00EDT on Wednesday. " class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> It has most sustained wind speeds of 160mph (260km/h) and will strengthen additional within the subsequent 12 to 24 hours, forecasters warned.

If it continues on the forecasted monitor, its core is anticipated "to maneuver close to or over Jamaica tonight and Tuesday, throughout south-eastern Cuba Tuesday evening, and throughout the south-eastern Bahamas on Wednesday".

The storm is especially sluggish shifting, which makes it very harmful when it comes to anticipated rainfall quantities.

In keeping with the NHC, 40 inches of rain (100cm) are potential in elements of Jamaica over the subsequent 4 days.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/215f/live/37c14750-b329-11f0-ba75-093eca1ac29b.png.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/215f/live/37c14750-b329-11f0-ba75-093eca1ac29b.png.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/215f/live/37c14750-b329-11f0-ba75-093eca1ac29b.png.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/215f/live/37c14750-b329-11f0-ba75-093eca1ac29b.png.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/215f/live/37c14750-b329-11f0-ba75-093eca1ac29b.png.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/215f/live/37c14750-b329-11f0-ba75-093eca1ac29b.png.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/215f/live/37c14750-b329-11f0-ba75-093eca1ac29b.png.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/215f/live/37c14750-b329-11f0-ba75-093eca1ac29b.png.webp" loading="lazy" alt="A satellite image shows the size of Hurricane Melissa as it approaches Jamaica." class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Forecasters warn that damaging winds and life-threatening storm surges are anticipated to hit Jamaica in a single day or early on Tuesday.

Jamaica's Prime Minister Andrew Holness has ordered the rapid evacuation of a number of susceptible communities throughout the island.

Officers additionally urged residents in low-lying and flood-prone areas to hunt shelter in safer areas.

Jamaica's Minister of Native Authorities, Desmond McKenzie, advised native media that the entire island's 881 shelters have been open.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/6d4a/live/8cbbe400-b31e-11f0-97c8-db772e271405.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/6d4a/live/8cbbe400-b31e-11f0-97c8-db772e271405.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/6d4a/live/8cbbe400-b31e-11f0-97c8-db772e271405.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/6d4a/live/8cbbe400-b31e-11f0-97c8-db772e271405.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/6d4a/live/8cbbe400-b31e-11f0-97c8-db772e271405.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/6d4a/live/8cbbe400-b31e-11f0-97c8-db772e271405.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/6d4a/live/8cbbe400-b31e-11f0-97c8-db772e271405.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/6d4a/live/8cbbe400-b31e-11f0-97c8-db772e271405.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Orlando Barría/EPA/Shutterstock A woman holds up her skirt as she wades through knee-deep water in a flooded street in Santo Domingo. Debris can be seen floating in the water. " class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Orlando Barría/EPA/Shutterstock Heavy rains introduced by Hurricane Melissa flooded neighbourhoods within the Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic

Not less than three individuals are recognized to have died and a whole lot of houses have been flooded in Haiti as Melissa introduced torrential rainfall to the island of Hispaniola.