Hurricane Melissa Slams Jamaica as a Category 5 Monster Storm – No Risk to Qroo

Caribbean Region — Hurricane Melissa has exploded into a Category 5 hurricane, bringing life-threatening winds, storm surge, and catastrophic flooding to Jamaica, according to the latest update from the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC).

Melissa first formed as a tropical storm in the central Caribbean last Tuesday before rapidly intensifying over record-warm waters. As of Monday evening, the hurricane packed sustained winds near 160 mph (260 km/h) and was crawling west-northwest at just 3 mph — a dangerous combination that prolongs the storm’s destructive impact.

Forecasters warn that Jamaica faces “catastrophic flooding and life-threatening landslides” as torrential rain continues through Tuesday. Rainfall totals between 15 and 30 inches are expected across much of the island, with isolated areas possibly receiving up to 40 inches, particularly in mountainous regions. Coastal communities on the island’s south side are also bracing for storm surges of 9 to 13 feet, capable of inundating homes and roads.

“Destructive winds, storm surge, and catastrophic flooding will worsen in Jamaica throughout the day and into the night,” the NHC said in its advisory. Residents have been urged not to leave their shelters, as conditions remain too dangerous for rescue operations.

Melissa is forecast to move slowly toward Cuba’s eastern provinces late Tuesday into Wednesday, bringing heavy rain and hurricane-force winds to Granma, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantánamo. The storm’s outer bands are already affecting Haiti and the Dominican Republic, where more than one million people have lost access to clean water amid flooding and landslides.

In Haiti and the Dominican Republic, tropical-storm conditions are expected to continue into mid-week, with the potential for road washouts, isolated communities, and further infrastructure damage.

Across eastern Cuba, authorities are warning of intense rainfall, possible river overflow, and wind gusts exceeding 100 mph as the storm approaches. Emergency shelters have been activated in several provinces.

With its Category 5 intensity, Melissa is now among the strongest storms ever recorded in the Caribbean basin. Meteorologists note that its slow movement and rapid intensification mirror other historic hurricanes, such as Wilma (2005), that caused catastrophic flooding in the region.

Residents across the northern Caribbean are urged to stay alert and follow official updates from the National Hurricane Center and local emergency agencies as Melissa continues its destructive path.