Monster Hurricane Melissa Churns In Caribbean: See FL Forecast

After Hurricane Melissa intensified into a major Category 5 storm over the weekend, it’s expected to make two landfalls in the Caribbean this week — with the possibility of a third — before turning north, experts said.

The system has maximum sustained winds of 165 mph on Monday morning, the National Hurricane Center said.

The system is expected to stay east of Florida and the United States. While there are no direct impacts expected, South Florida could see rip currents and hazardous sea conditions from mid-to-late week, CBS News reported.

Parts of the U.S. East Coast could see coastal flooding, rough surf and beach erosion this week, especially if Melissa expands, AccuWeather said.

Southeast Florida is at a medium risk of tropical rain and wind impacts on Wednesday and Thursday, forecasters said.

The storm will likely waver between a Category 5 and high-end Category 4 storm until it makes landfall in Jamaica Tuesday morning, AccuWeather said.

This will make it the strongest storm ever recorded for the island, Matt Devitt with WINK Weather, wrote in a social media post.

After this, it’s expected to hit Cuba as a Category 3 storm late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning, forecasters said.

A third landfall is possibly in the southeastern Bahamas after this, Fox 13’s Paul Dellegatto wrote in a social media post.

The system is expected to stay east of Florida and the United States. While there are no direct impacts expected, South Florida could see rip currents and hazardous sea conditions from mid-to-late week, CBS News reported.

Parts of the U.S. East Coast could see coastal flooding, rough surf and beach erosion this week, especially if Melissa expands, AccuWeather said.

Southeast Florida is at a medium risk of tropical rain and wind impacts on Wednesday and Thursday, forecasters said.

Though most of the system’s direct rain and wind will stay off shore, parts of Atlantic Canada could see the impacts this weekend.

The historic storm will bring life-threatening and destructive winds, as well as torrential rains, with the likelihood of catastrophic flooding and mudslides, to parts of the Dominican Republic and Haiti, in addition to Jamaica and Cuba this week, AccuWeather said.

Many of these areas have already seen days of rain and flooding as the system slowed down, forecasters said.

“Slow-moving major hurricanes often go down in history as some of the deadliest and most destructive storms on record. Tens of thousands of families are facing hours of extreme wind gusts above 100 mph and days of relentless, torrential rainfall,” Jonathan Porter, AccuWeather’s chief meteorologist, said. “A storm surge of 10 to 15 feet in the hardest hit areas along the southern coast of Jamaica will risk lives and result in property destruction. Additionally, a storm surge of 6 to 10 feet could damage or destroy critical infrastructure along the bays and shorelines near the capital and largest city of Kingston.”

While “Melissa is now one of the strongest hurricanes on record,” it’s important to remember that the worst winds are only up to about 10 miles out from the storm’s center, Denis Phillips, chief meteorologist for Tampa Bay 28, wrote in a social media post. “The entire island will NOT get the extreme winds. It also looks to me that Kingston, the capital and most populous city in Jamaica, will NOT get the extreme winds. In fact, there is a good chance they don't get hurricane force winds at all! Hurricane force winds (75+ mph) only extend 25 miles out from the center.”

Parts of Jamaica will see 24 to 36 inches of rain from Melissa with some areas seeing up to 50 inches, AccuWeather said.

The storm’s high surge will be worse just east of where the eye crosses the island, Phillips said, adding that Melissa could have life-threatening impacts for those in its path.

“But know this, folks who live in Jamaica are strong. They WILL rebuild,” he wrote.

Phillips addressed those on the island, writing, “If you still have time to get to shelters, and you aren't safe in your home, get to a shelter NOW! Nothing is more important than the safety of you and your family. The worst of the storm hits tonight and tomorrow. You have the support of the world behind you. We WILL be there to help you in the aftermath. You, and your families are in our thoughts and prayers.