Hurricane Melissa remains in category five, with winds of 280 km/h at 2 am (United States time), according to the American National Hurricane Center, this Tuesday (28).
The storm’s minimum central pressure decreased slightly, indicating intensification in the coming hours, as the lower the pressure, the stronger the storm.
Melissa is still expected to be a strong hurricane, when it makes landfall late Tuesday morning, although small fluctuations in its maximum wind speed are possible.
In addition to Jamaica, the forecast is that it will be a major hurricane later this Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning (29). Starting from Cuban territory, it should impact parts of the Bahamas and neighboring areas.
Melissa’s core is expected to move near or over Jamaica on Tuesday, cross southeast Cuba on Wednesday morning and cross the southeast or central Bahamas on Wednesday, according to the hurricane center.
A hurricane warning remains in effect for the southeast and central Bahamas, while a tropical storm warning remains in effect for the Turks and Caicos Islands.
These warnings indicate that strong wind gusts are expected to begin within 36 hours.
Hurricane conditions are expected to begin in Jamaica early Tuesday morning. This means sustained winds of 119 km/h to 280 km/h as the core approaches. Gusts can .
Because the hurricane is moving slowly, its destructive winds, torrential rain, and storm surge will last much longer than just the moment it makes landfall.
More than 52,000 people in Jamaica suffered power outages as the storm approached, officials said.
Crews have restored power to more than 30,000 customers, but heavy rains and rough terrain are delaying efforts to restore remaining outages, according to JPS (Jamaica Public Service).
“We will continue to restore power to affected communities as long as it is safe for our crews to work,” JPS said.
