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The Meteorological Institute of Cuba has issued a new and urgent warning of tropical cyclone regarding Hurricane Melissa, which in the last few hours has reached category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, the highest level of intensity for these meteorological phenomena.
The new report, referred to as Notice No. 14, warns of a gradual deterioration in the weather in eastern Cuba, with heavy rainfall, strong surges, and coastal flooding in low-lying areas, mainly along the southern coast of the provinces of Granma and Santiago de Cuba.
The INSMET warns that in the last 12 hours the system has continued to steadily gain strength.
The maximum sustained winds have reached 260 km/h, with even higher gusts, while the central pressure of the phenomenon has dropped to 917 hectoPascals, a clear indication of its intensification and potential destructiveness.
At six in the morning (local time) this Monday, the center of Melissa was located at 16.4 degrees North latitude and 77.9 degrees West longitude, placing it just 200 kilometers south-southwest of Kingston, Jamaica, and 455 kilometers southwest of the city of Santiago de Cuba.
Melissa is slowly moving west at a translation speed of 6 km/h, but it is expected that in the next 24 hours it will turn its trajectory towards the north and northeast, dangerously approaching Jamaica and then the eastern region of Cuba.
Deteriorating weather conditions
“Hurricane Melissa will be approaching the national territory starting Tuesday from the seas south of the eastern region of Cuba,” warns the official report, emphasizing the need for local authorities and the population to maintain strict vigilance.
According to the notice from the Institute, as Hurricane Melissa approaches the eastern region, the weather conditions will progressively deteriorate.
The external bands of the system are already producing an increase in cloud cover and precipitation over that area of the country, with rainfall that could become heavy and intense, especially in mountainous regions.
In addition, strong swells persist in the seas south of Granma and Santiago de Cuba, with minor flooding in low-lying areas of that coastline, a phenomenon that could worsen as the hurricane continues to approach.
The Forecast Center of the Meteorological Institute assures that it is closely monitoring the evolution and future trajectory of this powerful hurricane. Given the danger posed by the system and its proximity to national territory, a new official notice is expected at noon this Monday.
The population, especially in the eastern region, should remain alert to the reports from the Institute and follow the instructions of the Civil Defense. Although Melissa has not made landfall in Cuba, its influence is already being felt and could significantly intensify in the coming hours.
“Melissa is now a highly intense and very dangerous hurricane for the region”, concludes the statement, which reinforces the call for caution and immediate preparation in the face of a potentially severe scenario.
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