Hurricane Melissa forced the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Hurricane Hunters to abandon their reconnaissance mission Monday after the aircraft encountered severe turbulence and wind gusts exceeding 200 miles per hour in the storm’s southwestern eyewall.
The rare decision came as Melissa strengthened into a catastrophic Category 5 hurricane and began steering toward Jamaica.
“The aircraft left the storm early after experiencing severe turbulence in the southwestern eyewall,” NOAA said in a statement.
Forecasters warned that Melissa would move near or over Jamaica late Monday night or early Tuesday, October 28–29, before crossing eastern Cuba on Tuesday night and heading toward the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos by Wednesday.
Even before the eye reaches Jamaica, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said hurricane-force winds extend nearly 195 miles from the center, with the system creeping forward at only 3 mph—an ominous pace expected to prolong destructive winds, flooding, and landslides for days.
Although the hurricane had not yet made landfall Monday evening, Jamaican authorities confirmed at least three storm-related fatalities and injuries. One person was reportedly struck by lightning, and a healthcare worker died in St Elizabeth after a tree—being cut down as part of storm preparations—fell on her.
“That individual tragically passed after being attended to at Black River and the University Hospital,” Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton told CVM TV News.
By late afternoon, the NHC issued an urgent message to the island:
“Jamaica: Do not venture out of your safe shelter. Catastrophic and life-threatening flash flooding and numerous landslides are likely today through Tuesday. Destructive winds, especially in the mountains, will begin by this evening.”
Forecasters added that whether Melissa makes landfall as a Category 4 or 5 system, the impact will be equally devastating.
“There’s really no practical difference in Melissa making landfall in Jamaica at Category 4 or 5 intensity, since both categories can produce catastrophic wind damage,” the NHC said.