Jamaican officials issued urgent warnings on Saturday as Hurricane Melissa approaches, threatening to become the strongest storm ever recorded in the country.
“Do not take this lightly,” warned Daryl Vaz, Jamaica's Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications, and Transport. “Avoid making foolish decisions, like venturing out in the middle of the storm to see what's happening."
The National Hurricane Center reported that Melissa is expected to rapidly intensify over the weekend. In response, all airports in Jamaica will close at 8 p.m. on Saturday. The last flight of the day will be allowed to land if delayed, but all subsequent flights will be suspended until further notice.
Melissa is forecast to reach Category 4 strength as it passes over Jamaica, making it the most powerful storm to ever impact the country, according to Evan Thompson, Director of Jamaica’s Meteorological Service.
“There is nowhere that will escape the wrath of this storm,” Thompson stated. The storm is expected to bring between 20 to 30 inches of rain, with National Hurricane Center Deputy Director Jamie Rhome calling the situation "very concerning."
“If you have friends or family in the area, it’s crucial that you contact them to ensure they are aware and taking necessary precautions,” Rhome urged.
Hurricane Melissa has already claimed the lives of at least three people in Haiti. The Haitian Civil Protection Agency reported two fatalities from a landslide near Port-au-Prince on Thursday, and an elderly man was killed by a falling tree in Marigot.
As of 2 p.m. ET Saturday, the storm was moving west-northwest at just 1 mph, located about 145 miles southeast of Kingston.
The hurricane center warned of “life-threatening and catastrophic flash flooding and landslides” across Jamaica and southern Hispaniola over the weekend. In the Dominican Republic, more than 500,000 people have already lost water service due to downed trees and widespread traffic disruptions.
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