Jamaica prepares for Hurricane Melissa, now a category 5 storm

The National Hurricane Center says that Hurricane Melissa, now a category 5 hurricane, is forecast to move “near or over” Jamaica Monday night (Oct. 27) and early Tuesday.

NHC says that a life-threatening storm surge is likely along the south coast of Jamaica Monday night (Oct. 27) and on Tuesday. Peak storm surge heights could reach 9 to 13 feet above ground level, near and to the east of where the centre of Melissa makes landfall. This storm surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.

Jamaica Prepares

The Jamaican Ministry of Tourism’s Tourism Emergency Operation Centre (TEOC) opened over the weekend and is coordinating with Jamaica’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, the Meteorological Service of Jamaica, its Destination Managers for each resort area and other key agencies, to ensure the safety of visitors and locals.

Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett said that: “Our ability to respond swiftly and effectively to crises is what continues to set Jamaica apart as a world-class destination.”

Minister Bartlett added: “Resilience has long been at the heart of Jamaica’s tourism success. We have learnt from experience that preparedness is the foundation of recovery.”

The Minister continued: “This coordinated response reflects Jamaica’s investment in robust disaster risk management systems across all levels of our tourism industry. From our hoteliers and attraction operators to our transportation providers and dedicated tourism workers, we have established protocols that prioritize safety while maintaining service excellence.”

And Minister Bartlett emphasized that Jamaica’s tourism stakeholders are well-versed in implementing their internal preparedness plans, a capability developed through years of experience and continuous training that reinforces the destination’s commitment to visitor welfare.”

The Ministry and its agencies are continuing to monitor official updates and maintain close communication with all tourism entities to ensure seamless information flow and coordinated action as the weather system approaches.

(CLICK HERE for a message from Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism)

Cuba in Melissa’s path

NHC says that there is a potential for significant storm surge along the southeast coast of Cuba late Tuesday or Wednesday. Peak storm surge heights could reach 6 to 9 feet above normal tide levels, near and to the east of where the centre of Melissa makes landfall. This storm surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.

NHC also said in its latest forecast update that storm surge is possible in the southeastern Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands on Wednesday.

Swells generated by Melissa are expected to affect portions of Hispaniola, Jamaica, eastern Cuba, and the Cayman Islands during the next several days, and the Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and Bermuda later this week. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Go to www.hurricanes.gov for the NHC’s latest updates.