Michael Brennan, director of the National Hurricane Center (NHC) of the United States, provided an update on Hurricane Melissa, which reached category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale on Monday, with maximum sustained winds of 165 miles per hour (270 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 908 millibars.
“We expect catastrophic winds,” the director of the NHC said with concern, urging local authorities in Jamaica and the public to complete preparations to protect life and property.
Brennan described Melissa as a "catastrophic and potentially deadly" phenomenon. He detailed that the eye of the hurricane is located 230 kilometers southwest of Kingston, Jamaica. This is 530 kilometers southwest of Guantánamo, Cuba.
It is expected to turn north between tonight and Tuesday, moving over Jamaica in the coming hours and crossing into eastern Cuba on October 28. It will particularly affect the provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, and Holguín during the night on Tuesday.
It will move over the eastern part of Cuba on Tuesday night, warned the meteorologist, and it could be a Category 4 or 5 hurricane.
The hurricane warning remains in effect for Jamaica and eastern Cuba. A hurricane watch has also been issued for the southeastern Bahamas, the central archipelago, and the Turks and Caicos Islands, where dangerous conditions are expected to develop starting Wednesday.
The Dominican Republic and Haiti must prepare for more days of heavy rainfall.
The NHC warned that Melissa could bring accumulated rainfall of up to 30 inches (more than 700 millimeters) in Jamaica and 20 inches (500 millimeters) in eastern Cuba, with the potential for flash flooding and landslides.
In addition, a storm surge of between 9 and 13 feet (3 to 4 meters) is expected along the south coast of Jamaica and up to 11 feet in southeastern Cuba, accompanied by destructive waves.
Meteorological authorities urge the public to stay informed through official bulletins and to avoid coastal areas in light of the imminent impact of Hurricane Melissa, one of the most powerful storms of the 2025 Atlantic season.
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