Hurricane Warning issued for Jamaica as Tropical Storm Melissa set to intensify

The Meteorological Service of Jamaica has issued a Hurricane Warning for the island as Tropical Storm Melissa is forecast to rapidly strengthen in the coming days.

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At 7:00 p.m. Friday, the storm’s center was located near latitude 16.2°N and longitude 74.6°W, approximately 254 kilometres southeast of Morant Point and 310 kilometres southeast of Kingston. Moving slowly north at 4 km/h (2 mph), Melissa is expected to shift westward over the weekend, then turn north and northeast by midweek.

The storm currently carries maximum sustained winds near 100 km/h (65 mph), with higher gusts. Forecasters predict Melissa will become a hurricane by Saturday and a major hurricane by Monday. Tropical storm force winds already extend up to 220 kilometres from the storm’s center.

In an interview with Nationwide News on Friday evening, Principal Director of the Met Service, Evan Thompson, said the storm is expected to intensify and will possibly be a Category 4 or Category 5 hurricane upon making landfall in Jamaica, if it continues on the projected path.

“The latest projection is that it would move across the island, moving from the south coast to the north coast, as a major hurricane. And this would happen sometime Tuesday,” he said. “We are seeing that there is the possibility of not only roofs being lifted, but significant structures being demolished,” he said. “We would be battered.”

Jamaica is expected to experience heavy rainfall, with totals of 300 to 400 millimetres (12 to 16 inches) forecast over the weekend. Rainfall will begin in the eastern parishes and spread westward throughout the week. Residents are advised that locally higher amounts are possible.

Strong, gusty winds are expected to affect eastern parishes later Friday evening, spreading across the island through the weekend. Hurricane-force winds could begin as early as Sunday. Marine conditions will deteriorate, and small craft operators—including fishers from the cays and banks—are urged to remain in safe harbor until conditions improve and all warnings are lifted.

A Hurricane Warning signals that dangerous effects—including high water, exceptionally high waves, and winds exceeding 119 km/h (64 knots)—are expected in Jamaica within 36 hours or less.

Airport precautions

Earlier Thursday, before the Hurricane Warning was issued, Minister of Energy, Telecommunications and Transportation Daryl Vaz said Jamaica’s two international airports — Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay and Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston — could shut down within 24 hours of a Hurricane Warning being declared. Speaking at a special briefing on storm preparedness at Jamaica House, Vaz outlined safety measures already in place at both airports.

“At Sangster International Airport, MBJ Airports Limited has implemented pre-hurricane measures, including drainage and tree clearing, testing of generators with a 36-hour fuel reserve, and positioning of emergency supplies,” Vaz said. “At Norman Manley International Airport, PACKAL has directed stakeholders to secure assets and complete drain cleaning, structural checks, and power system tests.”

Vaz emphasized that closures would only occur once the Meteorological Service issues a Hurricane Warning, and that the airports may not close at the same time, depending on the storm’s path. Any closures are expected between Friday evening and Saturday, with reopenings expedited once safety is confirmed.