KINGSTON, Jamaica — Principal Director of the Meteorological Service of Jamaica, Evan Thompson, issued a warning during a special press briefing on Tuesday, urging Jamaicans to prepare for catastrophic and life-threatening impacts as a Category 5 Hurricane Melissa approaches the island.
“There is very little that can stop a Category 5 hurricane,” Thompson stated. “Regardless of where you are, if you are under the impact of those Category 5 hurricane-force winds, you will be having significant difficulty, especially with infrastructure that’s in the area.”
Thompson advised residents to seek shelter in the strongest possible part of their homes or shelters, placing as many walls as possible between themselves and the outside.
As the system crosses Jamaica, it is expected to weaken gradually, falling to Category 4 and possibly Category 3 by the time it exits.
The projected landfall is near Parottee, St Elizabeth, to the east of Black River, with the storm expected to go northeast across northern St Elizabeth into southern Trelawny, before exiting the island, likely in Trelawny rather than St Ann.
Rainfall is forecast to be heaviest across Jamaica’s central parishes, where 12 to 16 inches of rain could cause widespread flooding. However, Thompson cautioned that other parishes will also experience severe weather, including landslides, storm surges and damaging winds. (Jamaica Observer)
