Melissa strengthens to a Category 5 hurricane as it nears Jamaica

Hurricane Melissa intensified to Category 5 strength as it neared Jamaica, where forecasters said it would unleash catastrophic flooding, multiple landslides and extensive infrastructure damage.

Melissa is forecast to make landfall on the island on Tuesday and cross Cuba and the Bahamas through to Wednesday.

Early on Monday, Melissa was centred about 135 miles (220 kilometres) south-west of Kingston, Jamaica, and about 320 miles (515 kilometres) south-west of Guantanamo, Cuba, the US National Hurricane Centre in Miami said.

The hurricane had maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 kph) and was moving west at three mph (5 kph), the centre said.

Melissa is the strongest hurricane in recent history forecast to directly hit the small Caribbean nation.

“Do not venture out of your safe shelter,” the National Hurricane Centre warned.

Some areas in eastern Jamaica could see up to 40 inches (1 metre) of rain while western Haiti could get 16 inches (40 centimetres), according to the hurricane centre.

“Catastrophic flash flooding and numerous landslides are likely,” it warned.

Mandatory evacuations were ordered in seven flood-prone communities in Jamaica, with buses ferrying people to safe shelter.

“I want to urge Jamaicans to take this seriously,” said Desmond McKenzie, deputy chairman of Jamaica’s Disaster Risk Management Council.

“Do not gamble with Melissa. It’s not a safe bet.”

The hurricane was expected to make another landfall later Tuesday in eastern Cuba.

A hurricane warning was in effect for Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo and Holguin provinces, while a tropical storm warning was in effect for Las Tunas.

Up to 20 inches (51 centimetres) of rain were forecast for parts of Cuba, along with a significant storm surge along the coast.

A tropical storm warning also remained in effect for Haiti.

– A record storm for Jamaica

He warned that clean-up and damage assessment would be severely delayed because of anticipated landslides, flooding and blocked roads.

It would be the first time in recent history that a storm of Category 4 or higher makes landfall in Jamaica, Mr Thompson said.

He noted that Hurricane Gilbert was a Category 3 storm when it hit the island in 1988.

Hurricanes Ivan and Beryl were both Category 4, but they did not make landfall, Mr Thompson said.

In addition to the rainfall, Melissa is likely to cause a life-threatening storm surge on Jamaica’s southern coast, peaking around 13 feet (4 metres) above ground level, near and to the east of where the centre of Melissa makes landfall, the US centre said.

“Don’t make foolish decisions,” warned Daryl Vaz, Jamaica’s transport minister.

“We are in a very, very serious time over the next few days.”