A wave of alarm is spreading across the Caribbean as Hurricane Melissa has rapidly intensified into an extremely dangerous Category 4 storm, posing a direct threat to Jamaica and Haiti.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center has issued a dire warning, advising of the potential for “catastrophic” damage. Forecasters are warning of a severe risk of devastating floods and the total collapse of power and communication infrastructure in the storm’s path.
There is also a growing concern among experts that Melissa could continue to strengthen, potentially reaching the highest-possible Category 5 status.
According to the latest advisory, the storm is centered about 115 miles (185 km) southwest of Kingston, Jamaica. It is currently moving slowly toward the west at 5 mph. This slow movement is particularly dangerous as it allows the storm more time to draw energy from the warm ocean waters, potentially increasing its destructive power before landfall.
