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A HURRICANE WARNING is in effect for Jamaica, as Tropical Storm Melissa nears hurricane strength
and is expected to rapidly intensify today.
At 7:00 a.m., the centre of Tropical Storm Melissa was located near latitude 16.4 degrees North,
longitude 75.0 degrees West. This is about 375 kilometres (235 miles) southwest of Port-au-Prince,
Haiti, and about 210 kilometres (130 miles) southeast of Morant Point, and 260 kilometres (160 miles)
southeast of Kingston, Jamaica.
Tropical Storm Melissa is moving toward the west-northwest near 2 km/h (1 mph) and a slow west-
northwestward to westward motion is expected today through Sunday night. A turn to the north and
northeast is forecast on Monday and Tuesday.
Maximum sustained winds remain near 110 km/h (70 mph), with higher gusts. Rapid intensification is
expected to begin soon and Melissa is forecast to become a hurricane today and a major hurricane by
Sunday. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 185 kilometres (115 miles) from the centre.
On the forecast track, the centre of Melissa is expected to move over central Jamaica early next week
and over eastern Cuba by the middle of the week.
Tropical Storm Melissa is expected to produce rainfall amounts reaching 350 to 650 millimetre
(15 to 25 inches) over parts of Jamaica in the next few days. Catastrophic flash floods and landslides
are likely.
As the tropical storm moves closer to the island, expect tropical storm force winds to initially affect
the island, mainly over eastern parishes by tonight, with hurricane conditions expected by Sunday or Monday.
Small craft operators, including fishers on the cays and banks, are strongly advised to remain in safe
harbour until all warning messages have been lifted and wind and sea conditions have returned to normal.
