Category five hurricane Melissa hit the shores of New Hope, Jamaica on Oct. 28 at approximately 01:01 p.m. EDT or 10:01 am PST, with winds of 185 mph, the highest intensity hurricane to ever strike the island.
Hurricane Melissa first formed on Oct. 21 as a tropical storm, the 25th of the season. It then rapidly accelerated from a tropical storm to a Category four hurricane within the 24 hours between Oct. 24 and 25. Now it’s on track to continue straight through the island of Jamaica.
As soon as hurricane Melissa landed, it tore off roofs, flooded bridges and roads and ripped powerlines from the ground, causing widespread power outages. NetBlocks reports that overall national internet connectivity is down to 42% of usual levels.
With storm surge of up to 13 feet and rainfall up to 40 inches, hurricane Melissa is considered life-threatening. Flash floods, power outages and strong winds are causing collateral destruction and years’ worth of damage to housing, infrastructure, roadways and more.
Its abnormally slow speed of eight mph only increases its drastic impact on the island.
The International Federation of the Red Cross predicts that an estimated 1.5 million people will be affected by the storm, more than half of Jamaica’s population. Furthermore, 70% of Jamaica’s population lives within three miles of the sea.
Hurricanes are categorized on a scale of one through five, with Category five being the deadliest. Jamaica has never been hit by a Category five hurricane before, and the disastrous conditions and torrential rain will cause mass destruction and displacement in what World Meteorological Organization tropical cyclone specialist Anne-Claire Fontan has described as “the storm of the Century.”
Hurricane Melissa continued on to hit Haiti and Cuba as a Category four hurricane in the next couple of days, and had less catastrophic impacts on the Bahamas and Bermuda as a Category two later in the week.
As of Nov. 3, at least 61 deaths can be attributed to Hurricane Melissa and the aftermath of flooding. Displacements and financial losses are currently undisclosed.
