Overview
- Melissa came ashore in southwestern Jamaica near New Hope with sustained winds around 280–295 km/h, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.
- NHC forecasts call for life‑threatening storm surge up to about four meters on Jamaica’s south coast, catastrophic flash flooding and numerous landslides, with impacts extended by the storm’s very slow track.
- Jamaica ordered evacuations, opened more than 800 shelters and shut airports and seaports, as widespread power and communications outages were reported.
- At least seven deaths have been reported across the region, including in Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Republic, with totals expected to change as assessments continue.
- Hurricane warnings are active for eastern Cuba and parts of the Bahamas, large evacuations were underway in eastern Cuba, and humanitarian groups have pre‑positioned relief supplies for rapid deployment.