Hurricane Melissa live updates: No official death toll in Jamaica
Hurricane Melissa tore a path of destruction across Jamaica.
Hurricane Melissa tore a path of destruction across Jamaica after the storm made landfall on Tuesday as a Category 5 hurricane, one of the most powerful landfalls on record in the Atlantic basin.
After lashing Jamaica with dangerous winds and flooding rain, Melissa made a second landfall in Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane on Wednesday morning. Melissa then moved through the Bahamas, and next, on Thursday night, the storm will pass Bermuda as a Category 1 or 2 hurricane.
Key Headlines
Latest forecast
Catastrophic and life-threatening hurricane-force winds will begin in Jamaica on Monday night, and then Melissa is expected to make landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday morning.
Rain totals in Jamaica could reach 15 to 30 inches and even up to 40 inches in localized areas. This will spark catastrophic and life-threatening flash flooding.
Storm surge will decimate parts of Jamaica’s southern coast with water surging up to 13 feet above ground level.
Jamaicans should be prepared for extensive infrastructure damage and long-lasting power outages.
By Tuesday night, Melissa will move away from Jamaica and toward eastern Cuba. Eastern Cuba could see 15 to 20 inches of rain, triggering dangerous flash flooding and landslides.
On Wednesday afternoon, Melissa will approach the southeast Bahamas, where 4 to 8 inches of rainfall is forecast.
-ABC News’ Melissa Griffin
Jamaican prime minister urges residents to obey evacuation orders
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness said he’s signed an evacuation order for some areas on the island’s southern coast.
“We can lessen damage and speed up recovery by taking preparatory and precautionary measures before the impact of the hurricane,” Holmes said in a statement.
-ABC News’ Will Gretsky
Jamaica braces for life-threatening hurricane-force winds
Melissa, a Category 5 hurricane, has strengthened even further and is now packing winds up to 175 mph.
Catastrophic and life-threatening hurricane-force wind conditions are expected to begin in Jamaica Monday night and continue into early Tuesday.
People should be prepared for buildings to fall apart, especially in higher elevation areas where wind speeds could be up to 30% stronger.
1,000 nonessential personnel evacuated from Guantanamo ahead of storm
The Navy this weekend moved 1,000 nonessential personnel, family members, residents and pets from Naval Station Guantanamo Bay ahead of Hurricane Melissa.
“We're monitoring the storm's progress very closely and taking all necessary steps to ensure the safety of our personnel and the readiness of our bases," Navy Region Southeast commander Rear Adm. John Hewitt said in a statement.
-ABC News’ Luis Martinez