KINGSTON: Jamaica is bracing for one of the most powerful hurricanes in its history as Hurricane Melissa, a category five storm, approaches the island.

Already, three people have died in Jamaica, with additional fatalities reported in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
U.S. meteorologists are warning of “catastrophic and life-threatening” conditions.

With sustained winds reaching 175 mph (282 km/h), Melissa is the strongest hurricane of the year globally and could become the most powerful to strike Jamaica since records began in 1851.

The storm is intensifying as it moves slowly north-northeast at just 2 mph (4 km/h), increasing the risk of prolonged torrential rain, flooding, and landslides.

Tropical storm conditions are already affecting the island. The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned that hurricane-force winds could begin early Tuesday morning.

Within the hurricane’s eyewall, where winds are at their strongest, “total structural failure is likely,” according to the NHC, which also cautioned that high-elevation areas could experience wind speeds up to 30% stronger.

Officials have ordered evacuations in parts of Kingston. Jamaican Education Minister Dana Morris Dixon said the storm could bring unprecedented rainfall to already saturated ground, triggering widespread flooding and landslides. The government has activated 881 shelters, all open to the public.

NHC director Michael Brennan urged residents not to venture outside, warning of flash floods and landslides.
Deputy director Jamie Rhome said up to 40 inches (100 cm) of rain could fall in some areas over four days, making the slow-moving hurricane particularly dangerous.

The storm has already disrupted communities. In Hagley Gap, a mountainous town in the southeast, roads have become impassable, leaving residents isolated.

Evadney Campbell, visiting family on the north coast, expressed concern for lowland residents who are reluctant to evacuate for fear of looting.

A Hurricane Hunter aircraft, tasked with collecting critical data on Melissa, had to abort its mission due to severe turbulence.

Emergency services and local authorities continue to monitor the storm closely as Jamaica prepares for potentially historic devastation.