Hurricane Melissa upgraded to Category 4, expected to strengthen on Jamaica approach

Hurricane Melissa strengthened into a Category 4 storm as it churned northwest through the Caribbean Sea on Sunday, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center.

A Hurricane Warning, meaning that hurricane conditions are expected, was in effect for Jamaica as of early Sunday.

A Hurricane Watch, meaning that hurricane conditions are possible, was in effect for the southwestern peninsula of Haiti and southeastern regions of Cuba.

The multi-day event of torrential rainfall is expected to cause catastrophic and life-threatening flooding, as well as destructive winds and life-threatening storm surges, through Tuesday.

“Satellite images indicate that maximum sustained winds have rapidly increased to near 140 mph (220 kmph) with higher gusts,” the NHC bulletin reported on Sunday. “Continued rapid intensification is expected through tonight, followed by fluctuations in intensity.”

“Melissa is expected to be a major hurricane when making landfall in Jamaica Monday night or Tuesday morning and southeastern Cuba late Tuesday,” the advisory said.

The NHC has warned of “extensive infrastructural damage, long-duration power and communication outages and isolation of communities” in Jamaica and southwestern Haiti.

Melissa could progress to a Category 5 storm — with sustained winds up to 160 mph — before it makes landfall. The hurricane could be the strongest to impact Jamaica in more than 35 years, since the Category 4 Hurricane Gilbert hit the island in 1988.

The hurricane is expected to pass across southeastern Cuba on Tuesday night and across the southeastern Bahamas on Wednesday, the NHC said.

The storm is forecast to bring between 15 and 30 inches of rain to parts of southern Hispaniola and Jamaica into Wednesday. Up to 40 inches could fall in some places, the bulletin said. “Catastrophic flash flooding and landslides are probable across portions of southern Hispaniola and Jamaica,” it said.

Eastern Cuba is expected to see between 6 and 18 inches of rainfall, also possibly prompting dangerous flash flooding and landslides.

Dangerous storm surges, surf and rip currents are also forecast. The NHC warned that the southern coast of Jamaica would see “life-threatening storm surge” from late Monday through to Tuesday morning, peaking between 9 and 13 feet above ground level. (Yahoo News)