The director of the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Michael Brennan, warned this Tuesday that Hurricane Melissa, a category 5, is “catastrophic” and is preparing to make landfall in the southwest of Jamaica before heading toward eastern Cuba.
During a live update from the NHC headquarters in Miami, Brennan reported that the phenomenon maintains sustained winds of 185 miles per hour (about 295 km/h) and is moving northeast at about 9 miles per hour (15 km/h).
"We are facing a very dangerous situation that will unfold in the coming hours, with total structural damage and gusts that could exceed 200 miles per hour in the mountainous areas of Jamaica," Brennan warned.
The eye of Hurricane Melissa began to make landfall in the parishes of St. Elizabeth and Westmoreland, affecting areas such as Black River, Barbary Hall, and Blunters, where reports of severe flooding and power outages were already coming in.
The specialist also warned of a dangerous rise in sea level, with a storm surge of between 9 and 13 feet (2.7 to 4 meters), accompanied by destructive waves along Jamaica's south coast.
"Everyone in Jamaica must remain in their shelters. Do not go out when the eye of the hurricane passes. Dangerous conditions will return very quickly," insisted Brennan.
The National Hurricane Center predicts that Melissa will make landfall in eastern Cuba during the early hours of Wednesday.
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