Hurricane Melissa strengthened into a powerful Category 4 storm on Sunday as it churned through the Caribbean, putting Jamaica directly in its path. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said the storm could intensify further, possibly to Category 5, before making landfall on the island on Tuesday.
Forecasters warned of life-threatening flooding rain across Jamaica and Haiti as the slow-moving system drags bands of heavy weather over the region for days. Jamaica’s meteorological service said the island would feel the storm’s effects well before the eye comes ashore, with the heaviest rain and strongest winds building from Monday.
Jamaican authorities urged residents in low-lying and flood-prone areas to prepare to evacuate, and emergency officials across the northern Caribbean were activating response plans. Airlines and ports in the region were also bracing for disruption as the storm approaches.
Melissa’s rapid intensification adds to a growing pattern of storms strengthening quickly over warm Caribbean waters. Officials stressed that the main threat may be water rather than wind, with saturated ground raising the risk of flash floods and landslides even in areas that avoid the storm’s core.
