Hurricane Melissa” hits Jamaica: Last warning for storm of the century!

Hurricane Melissa” hits Jamaica: Last warning for storm of the century!

On Tuesday afternoon (local time) Hurricane “Melissa” reached Jamaica with full force. With wind speeds of up to 300 km/h and an extremely low air pressure of 892 millibars, it is considered the strongest storm ever recorded on the island. According to OCHA, it is a “storm of the century” that could go down in the history of the Caribbean country. As it moves across the island, it will bring not only stormy weather, but also high amounts of rain that could reach up to one meter in the mountains, significantly increasing the risk of flash floods and landslides. The Pfalz-Express reports on the unprecedented challenges facing the population, as some regions are already flooded and authorities are warning of crocodiles swimming around.

Preparing for the storm was not easy. Before “Melissa” arrived, 240,000 households were already without power. In addition, the internet has also collapsed in many places. As the government of Prime Minister Andrew Holness calls on the population to be cautious and warns of a “devastating disaster,” evacuations have been ordered in several parts of the country. The Red Cross speaks of potentially “unprecedented consequences” for Jamaica’s 2.8 million residents.

Slow movements increase the threat

One of the most dangerous characteristics of “Melissa” is its slow movement. With a speed of just 7 km/h, the storm will stay over an area longer, further increasing rainfall amounts. Climate scientist Michael Taylor aptly describes this situation as a “psychological marathon.” In this way, heavy rain and flash floods can have devastating effects on infrastructure and the lives of residents. Meteorologists estimate that storm surges of up to four meters are threatening the south coast, posing an immense danger to the people living there.

In preparation for “Melissa,” Kingston airport was closed and evacuations were also being prepared in Cuba and the Bahamas. The international hurricane warnings cover not only Jamaica, but also the eastern provinces of Cuba and parts of the Bahamas. The situation remains critical as over 50,000 households in Jamaica are without power. Sadly, three people have already lost their lives while preparing for the hurricane.

Climate change and hurricanes

Climate change poses major challenges for the region. A recent study shows that the intensity of hurricanes has increased in recent years. Without climate change, the likelihood of high temperatures along the path of “Melissa” was minimal. In the Gulf of Mexico, where many of these storms originate, temperatures have risen by up to 2 degrees Celsius in recent years due to human activity. This not only encourages such extreme weather events to occur, but also causes them to become more intense and frequent.

Hurricane Melissa is not just another storm, but represents a real, tangible threat that affects many people in Jamaica and the region. The coming days will show how the situation develops and what measures need to be taken to both reduce the immediate dangers and develop long-term strategies to adapt to the changed climatic conditions.

For current developments on this topic, it is advisable to read the reporting from Pfalz-Express, [Tagesschau](https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/ Amerika/jamaika-hurrikan-melissa-100.html) and Deutschlandfunk to keep an eye on.