The province of Guantánamo is preparing to face extreme weather conditions starting Tuesday, when Hurricane Melissa, which could reach category 5, will impact the province with strong winds, heavy rains, and floods, warned the local Meteorological Center.
Melissa, which maintained sustained winds of 220 km/h until Sunday morning, could intensify in the coming hours and reach category 5, the highest on the Saffir-Simpson scale (winds of over 250 km/h), warned the director of the Provincial Meteorological Center, Carlos Román González, as reported by the official newspaper Venceremos.
"We must prepare for the impact of a high-intensity hurricane," said the expert, who specified that the main effects of the phenomenon in Guantánamo will be torrential rains, hurricane-force winds, and storm surges both to the north and south of the territory.
According to current projections, extreme conditions could be felt from Tuesday morning and extend into Wednesday.
González emphasized that, unlike Hurricane Matthew (category 4) in 2016, Melissa would have a "more direct and comprehensive" impact on the province.
"Matthew passed well north of us, but Hurricane Melissa could affect our province in a more direct way. Its trajectory is not yet precisely defined, but its impact is likely to be widespread, so we must be prepared," Román indicated.
The meteorologist explained that the system creates a northeastern flow with high humidity and instability, which when interacting with the mountains could lead to very intense precipitation and river overflow in the northern region, already saturated by recent rains.
Although the spiral bands of the hurricane have not yet reached the territory, a progressive deterioration of the weather is expected starting Monday afternoon. "Intense rains and the possibility of flooding are a serious concern," he warned.
Local authorities urge the population to stay informed through official channels and to follow the instructions of the Civil Defense.
"The hurricane is not a point, but a large area with catastrophic effects," Román González reminded. "Everyone in Guantánamo must be prepared to face its consequences."
Since the initial early warning issued by the province, the authorities have been outlining plans to protect the population against potential impacts from rain, landslides, strong winds, and sea incursions.
In total, approximately 145,000 people will be protected: around 108,000 in the homes of family and friends, and 36,000 in evacuation centers, reported the local telecenter Solvisión.
Until this Sunday, 110 evacuation centers had been established, with the capacity to expand to 142 if necessary.
Also, 83 food preparation centers are being established, out of a total of 138 available, to ensure the sustenance of those evacuated, the source specified.
The authorities are also working on ensuring access to potable water, public health services, and maintaining order in each of these areas, with the aim of safely and systematically protecting the population in the face of the hurricane.
"We are preparing the conditions in advance to ensure that the population is adequately protected," stated sources from Civil Defense, urging the people of Guantánamo to stay informed and follow official guidelines.
The day before, the Education sector in the easternmost province of Cuba reported that classes were suspended for next week due to the approaching storm.
In this regard, the Institute of Meteorology of Cuba warned this Sunday about the imminence of strong swells in the south of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantánamo.
The First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba in Santiago de Cuba and President of the Provincial Defense Council, Beatriz Johnson Urrutia, issued a warning message about the imminent danger of Hurricane Melissa, which threatens to have a devastating impact on the eastern part of the country.
Melissa, which reached category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, continues its movement towards the northern Caribbean with winds of 220 kilometers per hour and threatens to cause intense rainfall, landslides, and coastal flooding in eastern Cuba.
In eastern Cuba, the provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, and Holguín remain under hurricane watch, with potential direct impacts between Tuesday and Wednesday.
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