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Hurricane Melissa intensified into a Category 5 storm Monday as it drew closer to Jamaica, where forecasters expected it to unleash catastrophic flooding, landslides and widespread damage. At that strength, it would be the strongest hurricane to hit the island since record-keeping began in 1851. Blamed for six deaths in the northern Caribbean as it headed toward the island, Melissa was on track to make landfall Tuesday in Jamaica before coming ashore in Cuba later in the day and then heading toward the Bahamas. It was not expected to affect the United States. Anticipating the hardship in store for his country, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness said, “I have been on my knees in prayer.” Category 5 is the top of the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale, with sustained winds exceeding 157 mph. A storm surge of up to 13 feet was expected along coastal Kingston. Melissa is the 13th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted an above-normal season with 13 to 18 named storms. System has winds of 175 mph Weather On Monday afternoon, Melissa was centered about 145 miles southwest of Kingston and about 325 miles southwest of Guantánamo, Cuba. The system had maximum sustained winds of 175 mph and was moving west-northwest at 3 mph, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami. Parts of eastern Jamaica could see up to 30 inches of rain while western Haiti could get 16 inches, the hurricane center said, citing the likelihood of “catastrophic flash flooding and numerous landslides." Mandatory evacuations were ordered in flood-prone communities in Jamaica, with buses ferrying people to safe shelter. But some insisted on staying. Storm could be most powerful to hit Jamaica in 174 years The slow-moving storm has killed at least three people in Haiti and a fourth person in the Dominican Republic, where another person remains missing. Two people died in Jamaica over the weekend as they cut trees ahead of the storm. “It's nothing to play with,” said Water and Environment Minister Matthew Samuda. “The time for preparation is all but over." More than 50,000 customers were without power. Landslides, fallen trees and downed power lines were reported ahead of the storm. In eastern Cuba, a hurricane warning was in effect for Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo and Holguin provinces, while a tropical storm warning was in effect for Las Tunas. Up to 20 inches (51 centimeters) of rain were forecast for parts of Cuba, along with a significant storm surge along the coast. Cuban officials said they would evacuate more than 600,000 people from the region, including Santiago, the island's second-largest city. Long bus lines formed in some areas. Evan Thompson, principal director at Jamaica's meteorological service, warned that cleanup and damage assessment would be severely delayed because of anticipated landslides, flooding and blocked roads. A storm of Category 4 or higher has not made landfall in Jamaica in 174 years of record-keeping. Hurricane Gilbert was a Category 3 storm when it hit the island in 1988. Hurricanes Ivan and Beryl were both Category 4, but they did not make landfall, Thompson said.
