Hurricane Melissa Brings Catastrophic Flooding, Storm Surge, and Destructive Winds to Jamaica

Strategic Insights -

Hurricane Melissa is on the verge of making landfall in Jamaica, bringing catastrophic flooding, storm surge, and destructive winds to the island. The storm's peak intensity has surpassed that of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, with maximum winds reaching 185 mph, just 5 mph shy of the Atlantic record. The National Hurricane Center has warned of an "extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation," urging people to take cover immediately.

Key Takeaways:

  • Hurricane Melissa's maximum winds reached 185 mph, surpassing the peak intensity of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
  • The storm's central air pressure reached 892 millibars, a sign of incredible intensity, making it the third-strongest Atlantic storm on record by this metric.
  • The hurricane is expected to push ashore in St. Elizabeth Parish, probably between Black River and Treasure Beach, causing inundation of 9 to 13 feet above ground level.
  • Three people have died and more than a dozen were injured in Jamaica while preparing for the storm.
  • Jamaica's Prime Minister Andrew Holness warned that the storm could cause "total building failures" and "catastrophic wind damage" with winds gusting up to 200 miles per hour.
  • The storm is forecast to produce catastrophic flash flooding and landslides, with heavy rains expected to total up to 40 inches in the mountains.
  • Dangerous, hurricane-force winds are expected to cause blowing debris, debark and flatten trees, and snap power poles like twigs within a 30- to 50-mile radius of the storm's center.
  • Hurricane warnings cover the Cuban provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, and Holguin, while a tropical storm warning is in effect for Las Tunas.
  • Up to 10 inches of rain and 4-6 feet of storm surge is predicted to hit the Bahamas, where hurricane warnings have been issued.

Statistics:

  • 185 mph: maximum winds reached by Hurricane Melissa.
  • 892 millibars: central air pressure reached by the hurricane.
  • 3 deaths and 13 injuries: reported in Jamaica while preparing for the storm.
  • 40 inches: heavy rains expected to total in the mountains.
  • 9-13 feet: storm surge expected to inundate areas near the south coast.
  • 50 miles: radius within which winds can blow debris, debark and flatten trees.
  • 30-50 miles: radius within which power poles can snap like twigs.
  • 25 inches: rainfall expected to hit Cuba.

Sources:

  • The Washington Post, "Hurricane Melissa approaches Jamaica with 175 mph winds and a storm surge of up to 13 feet"
  • National Hurricane Center, "Hurricane Melissa Special Update"
  • University of Bristol, "Hurricane Melissa is yet another stark reminder that islands such as Jamaica face the brunt of accelerating extremes amplified by climate change"