BREAKING: Hurricane Melissa explodes into rare Category 5 as three million people brace for ‘catastrophic’ landfall

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FROM DAILY MAIL: Hurricane Melissa reached Category 5 status Monday as the ‘catastrophic’ storm barrels toward Jamaica, where it will likely make landfall.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has located Melissa about 130 miles south-southwest of Kingston, Jamaica, and about 315 miles south-southwest of Guantánamo, Cuba.

The hurricane had maximum sustained winds of 160mph and was moving west at 3mph, the agency shared.

Category 5 is the highest on the Saffir-Simpson scale with sustained winds exceeding 157mph.

According to Evan Thompson, principal director at Jamaica’s meteorological service, Melissa is gearing up to be the strongest hurricane Jamaica has experienced in decades.

“Catastrophic flash flooding and numerous landslides are likely,” NHC warned, noting that Jamaica may get as much as 40 inches of rain, and western Haiti may face 16 inches.

“Do not venture out of your safe shelter. Catastrophic and life-threatening flash flooding and numerous landslides are likely today through Tuesday,” the NHC warned in a 5 a.m. ET update.

“Life-threatening storm surge and damaging waves are expected along the southern coast through Tuesday.”

Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica, said in a statement posted to X:

Hurricane Melissa has strengthened to a Category 5 system and is now approximately 100 miles south of Kingston, moving slowly westward.

Based on current projections, all of Jamaica is likely to experience hurricane-force winds, heavy rainfall, and flooding.

The Government has declared the entire island a threatened area under the Disaster Risk Management Act, empowering agencies to take all necessary measures to protect lives and property. Shelters are open, emergency teams are on standby, and compulsory evacuations have been ordered for vulnerable coastal and flood-prone communities.

Over $400 million has been allocated for drain cleaning and local preparedness, and emergency relief and recovery plans are fully activated. Our security forces and first responders are mobilized to maintain order and provide support before, during, and after the hurricane.

I urge every Jamaican to prepare, stay indoors during the storm, and comply with evacuation orders. Check on your neighbours, especially the elderly and vulnerable, and continue to pray for our nation’s safety.

We will weather this storm and rebuild stronger.

Melissa is estimated to bring destructive winds, starting this evening, isolating communities as it does extensive infrastructural damage and causes long-lasting power and communication outages, as it did in the Dominican Republic.

The Dominican Republic had more than 750 homes damaged across the country, and over 3,760 people displaced. Access was cut to at least 48 communities, officials there said. Their schools and government offices remained closed in four of nine provinces on Monday, which are still under red alert.

Cuba will also be heavily impacted by Mellissa, the NHC warned.

“Heavy rainfall with life-threatening and potentially catastrophic flash flooding and landslides is expected beginning today,” NHC said of eastern Cuba. “Life-threatening storm surge and damaging winds are expected late Tuesday and Tuesday night. Preparations should be rushed to completion.”

This is a developing story.

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