"Hurricane Melissa's winds dipped to a still powerful Category 4, as the eye of the storm passed over Jamaica with historic ferocity and barrelled towards Cuba. The US National Hurricane Center said on Tuesday that Melissa had made landfall near the town of New Hope, 62 km (39 miles) south of Montego Bay, packing maximum sustained winds of 185 mph (295 kph), which are considered to be above the minimum strength of a Category 5 storm."
"The storm of the century, as it was dubbed by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), has wreaked havoc across the Caribbean, bringing days of torrential downpours to nearby Haiti and the Dominican Republic, causing seven deaths in the Caribbean three in Jamaica, three in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic, where another person remains missing. Melissa remains a powerful Category 4 hurricane over Northwestern Jamaica, the US National Hurricane Center said in its latest advisory. This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation!"
"WMO cyclone specialist Anne-Claire Fontan predicted that rainfall was set to exceed 700mm (27.5 inches) about twice the amount expected in an average rainy season. Desmond McKenzie, a local government minister, told Al Jazeera that the island nation had done everything possible to protect itself. We are prepared, but I don't know if we can be prepared for a Category 5 hurricane, he said, adding that last year's Hurricane Beryl had caused extensive damage."
Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica with historic ferocity, briefly reaching Category 5 intensity and making landfall near New Hope with sustained winds reported at 185 mph (295 kph). The World Meteorological Organisation labelled the event the storm of the century as the system brought torrential downpours across the Caribbean, producing at least seven deaths and missing persons. Officials warned of catastrophic flash flooding, landslides and widespread damage, with rainfall projections exceeding 700mm in places. Emergency managers and local ministers said preparations were made, but authorities cautioned that even strong readiness may not fully mitigate a Category 5 storm's impacts.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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