Title: Hurricane Melissa Threatens Catastrophic Flooding in Jamaica, Haiti, and Cuba Hurricane Melissa has intensified into a Category 4 hurricane and could develop further to become a Category 5 as it approaches Jamaica. The National Hurricane Center warns that the hurricane is likely to bring life-threatening flash flooding and landslides to parts of Jamaica, eastern Cuba, and southern Hispaniola (which includes Haiti and the Dominican Republic). A hurricane warning was in effect for Jamaica and parts of Cuba, while parts of Haiti were under a hurricane watch. The slow movement of Hurricane Melissa is expected to bring a deluge of rain to multiple countries in the Caribbean, prolonging its dangerous impacts over several days. During a press briefing on Saturday, Jamaican officials said time was running out for residents to prepare for the storm. Evan Thompson, director of the Meteorological Service of Jamaica, warned that Melissa could be worse than previous major storms that battered the island, such as Hurricane Wilma in 2005. The National Hurricane Center forecasts that the core of Hurricane Melissa is likely to move across southeastern Cuba on Tuesday morning and then head towards Jamaica. The hurricane’s potential to reach Category 5 status makes it a particularly dangerous storm, with winds reaching up to 145 miles per hour. The historical context for this event includes the fact that Hurricanes have been known to cause significant damage in these regions before. In September of last year, Hurricane Irma caused widespread devastation across several Caribbean islands and parts of Florida. The potential implications of Hurricane Melissa are catastrophic flooding, landslides, and life-threatening conditions for the affected areas. From a personal perspective, this event highlights the importance of being prepared for natural disasters like hurricanes. It also underscores the need for better infrastructure in these regions to mitigate against such events. As we continue to see more extreme weather patterns due to climate change, it is crucial that governments and organizations work together to create effective disaster response plans and invest in resilient infrastructure.
Source: [Original Article](https://www.npr.org/2025/10/25/nx-s1-5586114/category-4-hurricane-melissa-jamaica)
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