Hurricane Melissa is hitting Jamaica...

[littlemissmartypants]

7. North Carolina's Weather Authority

Major Hurricane Melissa now has a pressure of 903 millibars and winds of 175 miles per hour, with some gusts over 200 miles per hour being reported by the Hurricane Hunters as it begins to approach Jamaica. This is the 7th lowest pressure on record for an Atlantic/Caribbean/Gulf hurricane behind Wilma (2005): 882 mb
Gilbert (1988): 888 mb
Milton (2024): 895 mb
Rita (2005): 895 mb
Allen (1980): 899 mb
Katrina (2005): 902 mb

Mellisa is expected to make landfall on the SE side of Jamaica, where the most significant and catastrophic impacts are expected on the Western side of the country. The National Hurricane Center says “Remain in your safe shelter. Catastrophic flash flooding
and numerous landslides are expected through Tuesday. The eyewall’s destructive winds may cause total structural failure, particularly
in higher elevations, leading to widespread infrastructural damage, prolonged power and communication outages, and isolated communities. Along the southern coast, life-threatening storm surge and damaging
waves are anticipated through Tuesday. Failure to take immediate action may result in serious injury or significant loss of life.”

I’m thinking of everyone in Jamaica and then Cuba and the Southern Bahamas as this system heads north. Hopefully my followers in these locations stay safe and follow the advice of local officials. This will be a generational storm for some, especially in Western Jamaica.