Powerful Hurricane Melissa to slam Jamaica late Monday

A NOAA Satellite image of powerful hurricane Melissa early Monday morning, 205 kilometres south of the Jamaican coast, with 260km/h winds. The storm is expected to produce catastrophic damage and flooding along its path across Jamaica and into Cuba over the next 48 hours. (NOAA)

What could be the strongest hurricane to hit Jamaica since Gilbert in 1988, is poised to make landfall Monday night across the south coast of the country. Hurricane Melissa is a powerful Category 5 storm early Monday morning, located 205 kilometres south, southwest of Kingston over the very warm waters of the Caribbean Sea.

A NOAA Recon Aircraft reported winds of 260km/h (160 MPH) at 5AM Monday, with a barometric central pressure of 917mb. Melissa could be historically the strongest storm to hit Jamaica since record keeping began. Gilbert was a Category 3 storm when it hit the island nation in 1988. That storm was the worst natural disaster ever to hit Jamaica, producing an incredible $2.9 billion dollars in damages. Gilbert was responsible for 45 deaths, leaving 500,000 homeless in Jamaica.

Melissa could be the strongest hurricane to ever hit Jamaica since Gilbert in 1988. The approach to the coast from the south is particularly concerning, with a path forecast across the most populated portion of the island nation. (NewScientist/AP Photo)

A hurricane warning has been issued for Jamaica, southern and western sections of Hispaniola as well as eastern Cuba. A hurricane watch was issued Monday morning for the Bahamas. Melissa is drifting west at 6km/h, but expected to turn north and east into Jamaica tonight and across eastern Cuba on Tuesday. Torrential rainfall is expected to produce catastrophic flooding and landslides across several Caribbean Islands, with 350 to 750mm forecast, with the highest amounts reaching up to 1000mm (40 inches).

Weather conditions are already deteriorating rapidly Monday morning across Jamaica, as winds, seas and flooding rainfall increase in intensity throughout Monday.

Winds are expected to gust between 200 and 300km/h, especially across the highest mountaintops. A storm surge of 9 to 13 feet is expected along the south coast of Jamaica. Mandatory evacuations have been ordered in coastal regions. Melissa is expected to remain a major hurricane through the next 48 hours as it moves across Cuba and towards the Bahamas, eventually brushing past Bermuda. At this time, Melissa is expected to remain well east of the US coastline passing southeast of Atlantic Canada.