Jamaica, in particular, will likely suffer catastrophic impacts from now rapidly-intensifying (but slow-moving) Hurricane #Melissa. A *Category 5* landfall now appears to be the most likely outcome, & 30-40+ inches of *additional* rain in mountains will lead to extreme flooding.
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This will not only be hurricane with top-of-scale intensity, but will also be slow-moving so wind/rain will linger for *days* in affected areas. Its slow movement will further amplify already extreme flood threat, particularly in mountainous parts of Jamaica & Haiti. #Melissa
Unfortunately, #Melissa has high potential to have devastating effects in Jamaica (even greater than Gilbert in 1988) despite the island's extensive hurricane experience. This one's looking like a worst-case scenario in terms of strength, duration, and "angle of approach."
While only Jamaica appears to be at risk of a direct strike from a Cat 4/5 storm, Haiti and Dominican Rep. have already been receiving torrential rainfall from #Melissa & this will continue for days to come. Haiti in particular is highly vulnerable to flash flood/landslides.
This evening's update from the U.S. National Hurricane Center on #Melissa is ominous, and explicitly mentions: "catastrophic and life-threatening flash flooding...extensive infrastructural damage...and potentially prolonged isolation of communities" in both Jamaica & Haiti.
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