Hurricane Melissa continued to inch through the Caribbean on Saturday, gaining considerable strength on path taking it to the west of Puerto Rico.
The National Hurricane Center in Miami upgraded Melissa to a category 3 major hurricane, with a predicted route taking it over Jamaica and then eastern Cuba before accelerating northeastward through portions of the Bahamas into the Atlantic.
The new forecast track is a little to the south and west of previous predictions.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) further warned that “[t]his remains a very serious situation, in terms of catastrophic rainfall, wind, and storm surge hazards for Jamaica, and preparations should be rushed to completion in the area currently under a Hurricane Warning.”
Specifically, people in Jamaica are being advised to seek shelter immediately. A multi-day period of damaging winds and heavy rainfall have begun and will cause catastrophic and life-threatening flash flooding and numerous landslides. Extensive infrastructural damage, long-duration power and communication outages, and isolation of communities are expected.
Catastrophic and life-threatening flash flooding and landslides are expected across southwestern Haiti into early next week, likely causing extensive infrastructural damage and isolation of communities. Wind damage could be extensive.
The post Hurricane Melissa Intensifies, On Track to Miss Puerto Rico appeared first on PUERTO RICO REPORT.
