Jamaica is bracing for a major hurricane.
Described by The Weather Channel as a “monster” storm, Hurricane Melissa strengthened overnight into a Category 5 hurricane and is expected to unleash “catastrophic” rainfall and powerful winds across the island nation. The storm formed on Oct. 21.
Melissa is also set to impact Cuba, Hispaniola (the island shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic) as well as parts of the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Bahamas; however, Jamaica, as of Monday, lies directly in its path, and preliminary projections indicate that Melissa could be the strongest hurricane to ever hit the country.
The U.S.-based National Hurricane Center reiterated the “catastrophic” nature of the storm, using that exact term while also advising Jamaicans that life-threatening flash flooding and numerous landslides are likely.
“Destructive winds, especially in the mountains, will begin by [Monday] evening, leading to extensive infrastructural damage, long-lasting power and communication outages and isolated communities,” NHC said in an alert issued at 5 a.m. Eastern time Monday. “Life-threatening storm surge and damaging waves are expected along the southern coast through Tuesday.”
The NHC also forecasts similarly severe impacts across other Caribbean regions in Melissa’s projected path.
Footage shared by the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere shows the hurricane’s eye forming, while another video shows lightning flashing within the eye wall. Late Sunday, CIRA posted further “jaw-dropping” video of the sun setting on Melissa as it slowly advanced toward Jamaica, at times crawling at just 2 miles per hour.
After making its way through the Caribbean, Hurricane Melissa is expected to continue northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, away from the East Coast of the United States.