Jamaica braces as Hurricane Melissa strengthens into Category 4 storm

Hurricane Melissa strengthened into a major Category 4 hurricane on Sunday, unleashing torrential rain and threatening to cause catastrophic flooding in the Northern Caribbean, including Jamaica and Haiti.

US forecasters warned Melissa could further strengthen into a rare Category 5 storm before making landfall in Jamaica early next week.

They added Melissa is likely to reach the southern coast of Jamaica as a major hurricane late Monday or Tuesday morning, and urged people on the island to seek shelter immediately.

“I urge Jamaicans to take this weather threat seriously,” the Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness said, “take all measures to protect yourself.”

Melissa was centred about 120 miles south-southeast of Kingston on Sunday morning. It had sustained winds of 140mph, and was traveling slowly at just 3mph, the US National Hurricane Centre said.

The erratic and slow-moving storm has killed at least three people in Haiti and a fourth person in the Dominican Republic, where another person remains missing.

“Unfortunately, for places along the projection path of the storm, it is increasingly dire,” said Jamie Rhome, the Hurricane Centre’s deputy director. He said the storm would continue to move slowly for up to four days.

Children play in floods caused by Hurricane Melissa in the Dominican Republic. / Credit: AP

Authorities in Jamaica said on Saturday that the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston will be remain closed.

More than 650 shelters were activated in Jamaica. Officials said warehouses across the island were well-stocked and thousands of food packages prepositioned for quick distribution if needed.

The storm has already damaged nearly 200 homes in the Dominican Republic, and knocked out water supply systems for more than half a million people.

In Haiti, there were reports of rising river levels, flooding, and a destroyed bridge.

The Bahamas Department of Meteorology said Melissa could bring tropical storm or hurricane conditions to the islands by early next week.

Melissa is the 13th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had predicted an above-normal season with 13 to 18 named storms.