‘Last chance to protect your life,’ NHC says as Jamaica braces for Hurricane Melissa landfall

JOINING US ON FACEBOOK LIVE AND YOUTUBE AS WE TRACK HURRICANE MELISSA. AND WE JUST GOT AN UPDATE ACTUALLY FROM THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER. WINDS UP TO 100. AND 85 MILES PER HOUR. JUST A HEARTBREAKING SITUATION AS WE WATCH WHAT IS A IT WILL BE A CRUSHING BLOW FOR FOR YOU KNOW, IT’S IT’S NOT COMMON THAT WE SEE CATEGORY 5 HURRICANES IS EVEN MORE RARE THAT WE GET ONE THAT THAT MAKES LANDFALL AND JOIN WITH GULF COAST’S METEOROLOGIST SARAH BLUE. AND WE’RE ALSO TAKING YOUR QUESTIONS TO IF YOU’RE WATCHING US ON FACEBOOK LIVE OR ON YOUTUBE AS WELL. AND IT’S AIR, OF COURSE YOU ARE TRACKING THIS OVER THE WEEKEND. WE TALKED ABOUT THIS RAPIDLY INTENSIFYING AND THAT’S WHAT WE’VE SEEN TAKE SHAPE AND NO INDICATIONS OF THIS SLOWING DOWN IN TERMS OF THE INTENSITY. CERTAINLY THIS EXPLODED OVER THE WEEKEND. IT OFFICIALLY BECAME A HURRICANE. IT’S A SATURDAY. >> AROUND 02:00PM. AND THEN BY SUNDAY, IT ALREADY JUMPED A CAT 4 AND CONTINUE TO INTENSIFY ALL THE WAY TO A CATEGORY 5, WHICH IS WHAT WE’RE SEEING NOW. OUR WINDS ARE ALL THE WAY UP TO ONE 85, WHICH PUTS THIS WELL ABOVE THAT THRESHOLD FOR EVEN BEING NAMED A CAT 5. SO THIS IS JUST A MONSTER OF A STORM AND WE’RE STARTING TO SEE THE EYE WILL BECOME CLOSER AND CLOSER TO THE COAST OF JAMAICA. WE’RE LOOKING AT A LANDFALL HERE PROBABLY WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS, JUST AND JUST PUT A TRACK ON IT. YEAH. LOOKS LIKE THE EYEWALL, THE NORTHERN EYEWALL ABOUT 10 MILES AWAY FROM THE SOUTHWESTERN COAST OF JAMAICA. I WAS JUST LOOKING AT SOME INFORMATION THAT CAME ACROSS OUR OUR FEED NOW THAT WE’VE GOT THAT 10 O’CLOCK UPDATE. >> AND THE PRESSURE HAS DROPPED TO A 92. SO ESSENTIALLY WHEN YOU SEE THAT PRESSURE GO DOWN, THE WINDS WILL GO UP. SO IS THE PRESSURE LOWERS THAT MEANS THE AIR IS FLOWING QUICKLY INTO THE CENTER OF THE STORM AT THE SURFACE AND IN IT, YOU KNOW, GOING UP AND OUT AT THE TOP OF THE STORM. AND THIS IS WHAT WE CALL A VERY DEEP STORM IN TERMS OF THE THE PRESSURE. BUT WHAT I WANTED TO PASS ALONG HERE IS THAT HURRICANE MELISSA NOW IS TIED FOR THE 3RD LOWEST PRESSURE. ON RECORD IN THE ATLANTIC BASIN. SO IT JOINS A A GROUP OF STORM SAID IS THAT THE WORST THAT YOU KNOW THAT WE’VE EVER SEEN? AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, CATEGORY 5 STORMS ARE NOT THAT COMMON. ONLY BEEN A HANDFUL THAT HIT THE U.S. SEASON. AND NOW WE’RE LOOKING AT ONE THAT’S GOING TO MAKE A DIRECT HIT OVER OVER IN JAMAICA. AND THE ONE THING THAT WE HAVE SEEN SO IS THAT THE THE WIND, I MEAN, THE THE SPEED, THE FORWARD MOTION HAS BEEN PICK-UP. TRACKING OVER THE WEEKEND. IT WAS ESSENTIALLY STATIONARY. >> THAT’S TRUE. AS WE START TO SEE THIS PICKING UP, THAT WILL HELP THIS CLEAR OUT A LITTLE BIT FASTER. BUT BECAUSE OF THAT STORM WAS SUCH A SLOW MOVER OVER THE WEEKEND. AND EVEN WHEN I WAS TRACKING IT YESTERDAY, WE WEREN’T GETTING THIS STOP MOVING OUR TO REALLY CLEAR OUT. SO THAT JUST CAUSED UNRELENTING WINDS WHICH ARE STILL SEEING ACROSS JAMAICA AND MULTIPLE DAYS OF VERY HEAVY RAINFALL. THIS IS GOING TO BE VERY, VERY IMPACTFUL FOR JAMAICA RIGHT NOW. WE’RE LOOKING AT A LANDFALL SOMEWHERE ON THE WESTERN PORTION OF THE ISLAND. BUT THAT MEANS THAT THE WHOLE EASTERN SIDE OF THE ISLAND IS ON THE DIRTY SIDE OF THE STORM, WHICH COMES WITH ITS OWN SET OF CHALLENGES WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR SOME SPIN UPS AND OF COURSE, OF SOME VERY GUSTY WINDS IN THAT AREA WILL AREAS GOING TO EXPERIENCE ABSOLUTELY. IMPACTFUL, POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC WINDS. YEAH. AND SO MANY IMPACTS, YOU KNOW, WE THINK OF HURRICANES AND WE KNOW, YOU KNOW, LIVING IN THE GULF COAST SAYS SOME OF THE STORM SAID WE’VE HAD TO DEAL WITH, YOU KNOW, WITH HURRICANE IAN, HOW? >> TERRIFYING THAT WAS. THEN WAKING UP THE NEXT DAY AND SEEING THAT DEVASTATION THAT THE STORM SURGE CAUSE. SO WE KNOW WHAT IT’S LIKE. BUT THIS QUESTIONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW THIS COMPARES IAN THIS. THIS IS A A STEP ABOVE IAN, IN TERMS OF THE OVERALL INTENSITY, ONE OF THE REASONS TO IS BECAUSE IT’S MOVING IT A SNAILS PACE. AND WE’RE TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE RAINFALL FROM THIS. SO WE KNOW THAT HAS WINDS UP TO ONE 85 NOW. BUT THE RAINFALL WE WERE TALKING ABOUT LOCALLY IN SOME AREAS PICKING UP AS MUCH AS 40 INCHES AND WHENEVER YOU GET THAT AMOUNT OF RAIN ANYWHERE, I MEAN, IT’S GOING TO LEAD TO MAJOR MAJOR CONSEQUENCE IS UNJUST. DEVASTATING EFFECTS HERE FROM THE RAINFALL. BUT ONE THING I WANTED TO POINT OUT, WE’RE GOING TO LOOK LIVE CAMERA HERE FROM JAMAICA IN JUST A MOMENT. BUT THE THE CAPITAL CITY, KINGSTON, IT LOOKS LIKE WE’LL AVOIDED THE WORST OF THE WINDS, AT LEAST THOSE TOP WINDS AT 100. AND 75 RIGHT NOW. LOOKS LIKE THE EYE WALL IS ABOUT 73 MILES AWAY FROM KINGSTON. BUT THERE ALSO SEEING THOSE WINDS COME ON SHORE. LIKE THIS. AND THIS JUST PILING WATER UP AGAINST THE THE BAYS AND SOME OF THE HARBORS THERE. AND THE WATER HAS NOWHERE TO GO. IT JUST KEEPS GETTING PUSHED ONSHORE, PUSHED ON SHORE. AND SO THAT’S GOING TO LEAD TO SOME MAJOR ISSUES WITH FLOODING AS WELL. SO I WANT TO GO TO THAT LIVE SHOT THIS IS KINGSTON AND AGAIN, WE’RE TALKING ABOUT 7 YEARS SO MILES AWAY FROM THE CORE OF THE STORM. AND YOU CAN SEE JUST HOW CHOPPY THOSE WAVES ARE RIGHT NOW. I’M NOT SURE HOW LONG WE’RE GOING TO HAVE THIS CAMERA. WE’VE SOME OF THE CAMERAS GOING DOWN AS THE STORM CONTINUES TO DRAW CLOSER. >> DEFINITELY SOME VERY ROUGH WATERS OUT THERE. I SAW ON THE COAST OF JAMAICA. THEY WERE FORECASTING BETWEEN 9 TO 13 FEET. SURGE. THAT’S NOT SPECIFICALLY IN KINGSTON, BUT THAT IS JUST GENERIC FOR THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE ISLAND. BUT STILL, THAT IS LIFE-THREATENING AND CATASTROPHIC. >> IN IT WILL GO TO THAT JUST TO KIND OF SHOW YOU HOW THE WINDS ARE GOING AROUND THE STORM. THIS IS FROM A FORECAST MODEL. SO I KNOW YOU MIGHT SEE THAT THE CENTER CIRCULATION OVER LAND HAS NOT MADE LANDFALL YET, BUT AROUND THE KINGSTON AREA ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE CENTER ISN’T MENTIONED, WATER’S GETTING JUST PUSHED UP AGAINST THE THE LAND. AND SO AT THE SAME TIME, YOU HAVE SOME OF THIS RAIN WATER, THIS JUST COMING DOWN RELENTLESSLY. WE TALKED ABOUT AS MUCH AS 30 TO 40 INCHES OF RAIN IN JUST THE WAY THAT THE TERRAIN IS OVER THE ISLAND. YOU HAVE VERY MOUNTAINOUS REGION OVER MUCH OF THE ISLAND AND THE RAIN COMES IN FROM THE MOUNTAINS, THEN DRAINS INTO SOME OF THE CANALS LIKE AROUND THE KINGSTON AREAS, THEY GOALIES AND ALL OF THAT GOES DOWN KINGSTON HARBOR. WELL, THEN YOU GET THE WATER LEVEL RISES THERE FROM THE STORM SURGE AND THAT WATER HAS NOWHERE TO GO. AND THAT’S WHERE YOU GET THAT CATASTROPHIC FLOODING. SO FLOODING, EVEN THOUGH WE FOCUS A LOT ON THE WINDS AND THOSE WINDS GETTING UP 25 AS WE SEE THERE, IT’S GOING TO BE THE THE WATER THAT CAUSES A LOT OF THE DEVASTATION, ESPECIALLY IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, LOSS OF LIFE. WE HOPE THAT THAT’S NOT THE CASE. AND WHERE HOPING EVERYWHERE EVERYONE ON THE ISLAND SAFE. AS WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE WIND FIELD FROM THE STORM. I KNOW WHEN WE LOOK AT THE SATELLITE AND LOOKS LIKE, YOU KNOW, IT’S MASSIVE MONSTER OF A STORM, BUT THE HURRICANE FORCE WINDS ARE PRETTY COMPACT. SO LISA SPOONER WAS ASKED ME THIS MORNING IF HE IS THERE ANY. GOOD NEWS THAT WEEKEND THAT WE CAN POINT TO AND IT’S THAT THIS IS NOT AM THE STORM WHERE THE HURRICANE FORCE WINDS GOES OUT LIKE 100 MILES AND WILL COVER THE ENTIRE ISLAND. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS GO OUT PRETTY FAR, THOUGH. THAT IS TRUE. WE’VE BEEN SEEING JAMAICA IN THE TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS FOR QUITE SOME TIME. >> I DID WANT TO POINT OUT I SAW THIS FROM THE NATIONAL HURRICANE I WANT TO ADVISE ERIZ YESTERDAY. WE’RE TRACKING SUCH GUSTY WINDS AND OF COURSE, WE’RE TRACKING EVEN STRONGER WINDS. THE HIGHER UP GO AND ALTITUDE AND JAMAICA IS VERY, VERY MOUNTAINOUS. SO ANY STRUCTURES THAT ARE UP HIGHER IN THE MOUNTAINS, THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER WAS SAYING AND I QUOTE, A TOTAL STRUCTURAL FAILURE JUST BECAUSE OF HOW GUSTY THE WINDS ARE. SO CERTAINLY KEEPING TO MAKE AN ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE HOMES THE MOUNTAINOUS REGIONS IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS, COURSE, WITH THE MOUNTAINS THAT ALSO COMES WITH THE RISK OF LANDSLIDES, THAT SOMETHING THAT LIKELY BE IMPACTFUL, ESPECIALLY WITH THESE MULTIPLE FEET OF RAIN. WE’RE TALKING ALMOST 3 AND A HALF FEET OF RAIN AS THIS PASSES BY. YES, CRAZY THAT WE’RE MEASURING RAINFALL IN FEET AND STEAD OF INCHES AND THAT. >> WHAT YOU SAID JUST A MOMENT AGO ABOUT THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MENTIONED MENTIONING THE STRUCTURAL FAILURE WITH A LOT OF THESE SEE THE WORST OF THE WINDS. THAT’S NOT SOMETHING THAT THEY THEY SAY TOO OFTEN BECAUSE WE WE READ THEIR DISCUSSIONS A LOT AND THAT THAT IS SERIOUS STATEMENT FROM THEM. WE WERE TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE WINDS IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS. IT WOULDN’T SURPRISE US IF WE SAW IN SOME OF THE MORE MOUNTAINOUS REGIONS BECAUSE YOU GO UP, THE WINDS GET HIGHER. WE SEE WINDS STAYING, YOU KNOW, CLOSER TO 200 MILES PER HOUR OR ABOVE. >> CERTAINLY. AND THIS IS A MONSTER OF A STORM. SO THIS IS OUR 3RD CATEGORY 5 SO FAR IN THE ATLANTIC BASIN OF 2025. AND I JUST WANT TO COMPARE IT TO THE LAST 2 HAD AARON THERETO. THOSE WINDS TOPPED OUT AROUND ONE 60 AND WE’RE SEEING ONE 85. SO THIS IS JUST EAST OF A STORM. >> YEAH, I MEAN, THERE’S THERE’S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF EXAMPLES OF OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND IF YOU KNOW WORD NOT HERE TO HYPE ANYTHING UP. WE’VE SEEN, YOU KNOW, HISTORICALLY HURRICANES HAVE DONE IN THE PAST AND THIS IS WHEN 85. THAT’S SOMETHING THAT’S PRETTY RARE TO SEE. EVEN MORE RARE TO SEE SOMETHING OF THIS MAGNITUDE MAKING LANDFALL. LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE WAVE HEIGHTS WITH POP THIS ON THE SCREEN A MOMENT AGO. BUT I’VE BEEN KIND OF WATCHING THIS THROUGHOUT THE MORNING AND YOU CAN ALWAYS KIND OF GET AN IDEA OF HOW MUCH WATER IS A STORM IS PUSHING AROUND IDEA OF THE STRENGTH MUCH WATER THE STORM IS PUSHING AROUND. AND WE’RE LOOKING AT WAVE HEIGHTS UP TO ABOUT 24 25 FEET. SO THERE’S JUST A LOT OF ENERGY BEING SPREAD OUT BY HURRICANE MELISSA, ESPECIALLY THERE CLOSER TO THE CORE OF THE STORM. LET’S HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE IMPACTS KNOW. SO WE EXPECTED THEM TO GO BACK ONE MORE HERE. SO WE CAN JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THE TIMELINE. SO THIS IS GOING TO BE THE FIRST OF A FEW LANDFALLS MAKES LANDFALL. IN THE NEXT HOUR OVER SECTIONS OF JAMAICA THERE, THE SOUTHERN SIDE. WINDS AT 185 MILES PER HOUR. RIGHT NOW, WINDS COULD LIKELY COME DOWN. I THINK WE’RE GOING TO SEE THAT AS IT INTERACTS WITH SOME OF THE TERRAIN, ESPECIALLY SOME OF THE MORE MOUNTAINOUS AREAS. AND THEN A SECOND LANDFALL LATER TONIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING OVER EASTERN PORTIONS OF CUBA. BUT EVEN THEN WE COULD BE LOOKING AT A CATEGORY 4 HURRICANE. NO TO SEE MY FOX GETTING CUT OFF SOME THIS GO AHEAD AND SMOOTH THAT TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SCREEN EVERYONE CAN SEE IT. >> AND THIS THIS TIMELINE OF THE I’VE BEEN TRACKING ALL WEEK AND HAS KIND OF GONE BACK AND FORTH AS WE’VE BEEN WATCHING. MELISSA’S JUST SNAIL PACE. IT HAS SLOWED DOWN. BUT NOW THAT WE’RE STARTING TO SEE THAT STORM, I MEAN, GAINING SPEED AGAIN, THAT WILL HELP US DETERMINE OUT THAT SO LIKE I SAID, A MATTER OF HOURS, THAT’S WHAT WE’RE LOOKING AT FOR THE LAND JAMAICA. AND THEN LIKE JASON MENTIONED, SOME TIME WEDNESDAY MORNING. PROBABLY THAT CATEGORY 4 LANDFALL IN CUBA. >> ALWAYS A BAD COMBINATION WHEN THEY, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST A CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE, BUT ONE THAT IS MOVING AS SLOWLY AS THIS ONE. A SLOW-MOVING STORM ALWAYS CAUSED CAUSES PROBLEMS. AND, YOU KNOW, IT’S EVEN WORSE THAT WE HAVE ONE OF THIS SCALE. AS WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT SOME OF THE IMPACTS HERE FOR HURRICANE MELISSA. WE MENTIONED THE, YOU KNOW, THE WIND AND STORM SURGE. IT LOOKS LIKE THIS WILL BECOME THE STRONGEST HURRICANE ON RECORD, AT TO HIT THE ISLAND OF JAMAICA WITH A LIFE-THREATENING FLOODING. AND YOU MENTIONED THE THE LANDSLIDE. SO JUST AND MULTITUDE OF HAZARDS IN, YOU KNOW, THINK ABOUT. >> IF YOU WERE HERE FOR HURRICANE IRMA, HURRICANE IAN AND HOW LONG WE WENT WITHOUT WITHOUT POWER WITH THOSE STORMS. AND SO WE COULD BE LOOKING WEEKS IF NOT LONGER FOR THE THE CITIZENS THERE THAT WILL GO WITHOUT POWER AS THEY RECOVER. BUT LET’S FOCUS ON GUESS WHAT’S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW ON AND WE’LL GET TO THAT THE RECOVERY AFTER THE STORM. MOVES AWAY FROM THE ISLAND AND THAT CAN’T HAPPEN FAST ENOUGH THERE FOR THE RESIDENTS OF JAMAICA. AND YOU CAN SEE LOVE SARAH, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW THE INTIALLY THIS STORM WILL PICK UP SPEED AS IT MOVES INTO THE ATLANTIC AND IT’S ACTUALLY GETTING CONNECT WITH A COLD FRONT LITTLE DIP IN THE JET STREAM, WHICH WILL SHOVE IT ALONG. >> AND IT’S BEEN WAITING ON THIS COLD FRONT FOR SEVERAL DAYS, WHICH IS WHY SHE’S BEEN KIND OF SITTING AND SPINNING ACROSS THE NORTHERN CARIBBEAN. BUT EVEN AFTER MOVES PAST CUBA, WE’RE LOOKING AT THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS. BERMUDA, POTENTIALLY WITH SOME IMPACTS FROM A WEAKER STORM. BUT STILL POSSIBLY A HURRICANE STILL CERTAINLY COULD IMPACTFUL. KNOW IF YOU GUYS WERE WATCHING WHEN THIS WAS. >> STILL JUST AN INVEST IN TROPICAL STORM. I’M SURE YOU REMEMBER US TALKING ABOUT IT WAS GOING TO MEET THAT COLD FRONT. WHICH DIRECTION IS GOING GO BECAUSE THIS STORM WAS THE FORECAST CONE WAS VERY UNCERTAIN FOR A LONG TIME. WE STARTED TO FINALLY SEE THE ATMOSPHERE TAKE SHAPE IN A WAY THAT WE KNOW WHERE THIS STORM IS GOING TO GO AND THAT COLD FRONT THAT’S GOING HELP SHOVE THIS A LONG UP TO FINALLY ACCELERATED THROUGH THE CARIBBEAN AND OFF TOWARD THE ATLANTIC. THAT’S I’M GOING TO KEEP IT AWAY FROM THE EASTERN UNITED STATES. SO THAT WILL KEEP THE IMPACTS AWAY FROM FLORIDA AS WELL AS THE EAST COAST. THE ONLY THING THAT WE MAY SEE ARE SOME ROUGH WATERS THAT MAKE IT TO THE EAST COAST. BUT NOTHING LIKE THE IMPACTS THAT ARE HAPPENING THE CARIBBEAN RIGHT NOW. AS WE LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE, YOU CAN KIND OF SEE WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH HURRICANE MELISSA. >> THERE’S 2 FRONTS THAT WE’RE TRACKING THIS ONE OVER THE SOUTHERN TIP OF FLORIDA. NOW. AND THAT’S WHAT’S KIND OF HELPING TO START GUIDING IT TO THE NORTHEAST IS THE SECOND STRONGER COLD FRONTS ARE WAITING IN THE WINGS POSITIONED OVER TEXAS. YOU CAN START TO SEE ALL ALL THESE MOVING PARTS PLAY A ROLE AND WHERE MELISSA WILL GO. SO THIS TAKES US THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING AROUND 8 O’CLOCK. AND THEN THERE’S MELISSA MOVING ACROSS THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS. HERE COMES THAT SECOND STRONGER COLD FRONT. THIS IS AROUND THURSDAY MORNING. AND THIS WILL REALLY HELP TO ACCELERATE MELISSA OFF TO THE NORTHEAST. SAN, YOU KNOW, JUST HERE LOCALLY, WE’RE TALKING ABOUT MELISSA, BUT THIS WILL BE THE FIRST STRONG COLD FRONT OF THE SEASON FOR US ACROSS THE GULF COAST AND WE’RE GOING TO BE TRACKING TEMPERATURES STEM OF THE CHILLY 50’S HERE AS WE GET TOWARD THE END OF THE WEEK. SO THIS COLD FRONT IN A WAY SORT OF OUR PROTECTOR AND PREVENTING MELISSA TO MOVE UP INTO THE SOUTHEASTERN U.S.. >> CERTAINLY IT’S KEEPING ALL OF THOSE STEERING CURRENTS AWAY FROM THE U.S. AND KEEPING THAT GOOD THING AWAY FROM US, I KNOW THAT I AM VERY GRATEFUL FOR LIVING HERE IN FLORIDA. >> YEAH, WE’VE HAD OUR FAIR SHARE OF STORMS. THAT’S FOR SURE. WE CAN DEFINITELY USE A BREAK HERE, OF COURSE. AND GOOD NEWS FOR US. BAD NEWS FOR SOMEBODY ELSE’S. TYPICALLY THE WAY THAT IT WORKS IN THE TROPICS. AND SO WE ARE JUST PROBABLY UNDER AN HOUR AWAY FROM HURRICANE MELISSA MAKING LANDFALL WINDS RIGHT NOW. 185 MILES PER HOUR. THE PRESSURE CONTINUES TO DROP. >> WHICH MEANS THE STORM CONTINUES TO INTENSIFY. ONE THING WE WERE HOPING TO SEE AND THIS HAPPENS A LOT WHEN YOU GET THESE CATEGORY 5 HURRICANES, THEY CAN’T HOLD ONTO THAT INTENSITY FOR A LONG TIME. AND SO THEY GO THROUGH THOSE EYEWALL REPLACEMENT CYCLES. WE JUST HAVEN’T HAVEN’T SEEN THAT YET. IT DOESN’T LOOK LIKE IT’S GOING TO OCCUR BEFORE OUR LANDFALL HAPPENS HERE IN THE NEXT 30 MINUTES. WE’LL HAVE THE 11:00AM ADVISORY FROM THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER. HURRICANE HUNTERS HAVE BEEN IN THE STORM CONSTANTLY GATHERING SO THAT’S WHY WE’RE STARTING TO ALSO GET THESE HOURLY ADVISORIES. WE’RE ALSO TAKING YOUR QUESTIONS HERE ON FACEBOOK LIVE. AND SARA IS GOING TO CHECK IN TO SEE IF THERE’S ANY QUESTIONS. IT THAT WE CAN ADDRESS. HAVEN’T SEEN ANY QUESTIONS YET. BUT I AM SEEING SOME COMMENTS SAYING THAT THE LIVE VIDEOS. >> RIGHT NOW OUR ARE NOT SHOWING THE WIND AND THE RAIN. THAT’S JUST A CAMERA THING. THEY’RE DEFINITELY YEAH. WIND AND RAIN. IT’S JUST THE ANGLE OF THE CAMERA. THAT’S GOING ON THERE BECAUSE TRUST ME, I’M LOOKING AT THE DATA AND. >> YEAH, WELL, YEAH, IT IS. AND HERE’S A HERE’S A GOOD WAY TO KIND OF ILLUSTRATE THAT. SO THERE’S THE. >> THE WORST OF THE STORM. AND I’LL KIND OF DRAW IN HERE. SO YOU CAN SEE. SO THE HURRICANE FORCE WINDS WHERE THEY’RE FINDING IT 185 MILES PER HOUR IS RIGHT IN THIS LITTLE POCKET, OK? SO IT ONLY GOES OUT ABOUT 30 OR SO MILES FROM THE CENTER WHERE THE CAMERA IS LOCATED IS BRENDAN KINGSTON HARBOR. SO THAT’S WHY WE’RE NOT LOOKING AT THE WORST OF THE WINDS BECAUSE THE CAMERAS THAT WERE THERE OVER THE SOUTHWESTERN PART OF THE ISLAND, THERE NO LONGER OPERATIONAL. AND IF WE KIND OF MEASURE THE DISTANCE FROM THE EYE TO WHERE WE HAVE THAT WORKING CAMERA, IT’S ABOUT 70 MILES AWAY. AND SO THAT’S WHY YOU’RE SEEING IF WE LOOK HERE FROM WELL AND SOON, AS I SAID, THAT THE CAMERAS NOW LOOKS LIKE WE’RE STARTING DO IT. AND NOW IT’S BACK UP AND WE HAVE OBVIOUSLY WE’RE NOT TRYING THIS CAMERA, BUT WE’RE LOOKING THERE IN KINGSTON HARBOR. >> STILL, THOUGH, THAT WHAT IT IS LIKE ABSOLUTE LEAD TURBULENT AND VERY ANGRY. SEE THERE. >> BUT I CAN GUARANTEE YOU IT IS GOING TO BE MUCH, MUCH WORSE. THEY’RE ON THE WESTERN PART OF A JAMAICA WHERE YOU SEE THAT LITTLE CIRCLE THERE, THE ENTIRE ISLAND, OF COURSE, WE’LL SEE SOME MAJOR, MAJOR IMPACTS FROM THE STORM FOR SURE. I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT SOMETHING THAT I SAW FROM ONE OF THE HURRICANE HUNTER REPORTS. >> THIS WAS YESTERDAY. THEY WERE IN THE EYE WALL SEEING ALL OF THEIR MEASUREMENTS. BUT THEY ENDED UP IN COUNTERING BIRDS IN THE CENTER OF THE EYE. AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN THE STORM AND JUST SO STRONG THAT BURNS WILL BE IN THE CENTER AND A CALM PORTION OF THE STORM. BUT THE WINDS ARE SO GUSTY THAT THEY SIMPLY SO TRAPPED. YEAH, THEY CAN’T GET OUT ACTUALLY. YOU KNOW, WE SAW THAT WITH. >> HURRICANE IDALIA A COUPLE OF YEARS WITH FLAMINGOS THAT WERE MOVED BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE THE EYE OF THE STORM. SO, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THAT HAPPENS, YOU GET THE BIRDS THAT ACTUALLY GETS ITS CAUGHT UP IT SOUNDS WHILE THEY REALLY THAT’S THAT’S WHAT HAPPENS THERE. AND THERE WAS ONE POINT YESTERDAY THE HURRICANE HUNTERS TRYING TO FLY INTO MELISSA AND THEY HAD TO TURN AROUND JUST BECAUSE OF THIS, TOO TURBULENT TOO DANGEROUS FOR THEM TO GO IN AND GET OBSERVATIONS. BUT REALLY SAYING SOMETHING BECAUSE HURRICANE HUNTERS ARE. >> THEY FLY INTO SOME OF THOSE VIOLENT STORMS IN THE WORLD. SO JUST A TESTAMENT TO HOW STRONG ALYSSA IS. >> IF YOU HAVE NO FAMILY OR FRIENDS, SARAH, KNOW SOMEONE WHO LIVES JAMAICA, SOMEONE THAT YOU WENT TO SCHOOL WITH, YOU SAID THERE AND EITHER IN KINGSTON, KINGSTON. >> I HAVE BEEN WATCHING ALL OF THEIR UPDATES AND SEEING THE RAIN THAT MY FRIEND HAS BEEN POSTING. SO CERTAINLY IT IS GETTING REALLY TURBULENT OUT I HEARD REPORTS THAT A LOT OF THE RESIDENTS ARE. GOING AND BUYING THEIR FOOD AND SOME OF THE SHELVES ARE STARTING TO BECOME MORE BEAR. YEAH, BECAUSE THEY’RE PREPARING FOR THIS HURRICANE. >> I HOPE HOPE YOUR FRIENDS, OK? AND IF YOU KNOW IF YOU KNOW ANYONE HE HAD, YOU KNOW, FAMILY FRIENDS AND JAMAICA, WE HOPE EVERYONE STAYS SAFE. AND WHAT’S GOING TO BE JUST, YOU KNOW, ALONG TERRIFYING DAY, IT’S A DEAL WITH MONSTER OF A STORM. THE STRONGEST STORM. ON THE PLANET THIS YEAR AND ONE OF THE STRONGEST HURRICANES IN RECORDED HISTORY. IF YOU MISS IT AT THE BEGINNING. NOW WITH THIS UPDATE AT 10:00AM YEAH, THIS HURRICANE MELISSA IS THE ALL TIED FOR 3RD FOR THE LOWEST PRESSURE ON RECORD. >> WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY INSANE. IT’S VERY RARE THAT WE SEE CAT FIVES AND THEN SEEING ONE OF THIS MAGNITUDE IS JUST AND ABSOLUTE MAMMOTH OF A STORM. I HAVE A FEELING IT’S TOO EARLY TO SAY THIS, BUT THE LIKELY END UP RETIRING THIS NAME UP AFTER THE AFTERMATH OF MELISSA. >> YEAH, YEAH. I THINK STRONG LIKELIHOOD THERE WHAT WE’RE GOING TO DO NOW IS AFTER. THE NEXT 20 OR SO MINUTES. WE’LL HAVE THE 11:00AM ADVISORY. GULF COAST METEOROLOGIST LAUREN HOPE IS GETTING READY TO START COVERAGE OF MELISSA’S LANDFALL. SHE’LL UPDATE YOU ON GULF COAST. NBC STARTING AT 11:00AM. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR QUESTIONS. THANKS FOR JOINING US ON YOUTUBE STREAM AND FACEBOOK LIVE AND WE’LL, BRING YOU MORE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND WHAT’S GOING TO BE A VERY LONG DAY ACROSS THE NORTHERN CARIBBEAN FROM JAMAICA, EASTERN CUBA, PARTS OF THE BAHAMAS AND ALSO AROUND THE TURKS IN CASE TAKE US COULD SEE SOME IMPACTS FROM THIS RIGHT GULF COAST METEOROLOGIST JASON DUNNING HERE GULF COAST, METEOROLOGIST SARAH BLUE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US FOR THIS FACEBOOK LIV

‘Last chance to protect your life,’ NHC says as Jamaica braces for Hurricane Melissa landfall

Updated: 10:13 AM CDT Oct 28, 2025

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Hurricane Melissa was set to pummel Jamaica on Tuesday as a catastrophic Category 5 storm, the strongest to lash the island since record-keeping began 174 years ago.In a 10 a.m. update, the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said this is the “last chance to protect your life,” calling Melissa an “extremely dangerous” hurricane. Hours before the storm, the Jamaican government said it had done all it could to prepare as it warned of catastrophic damage. The streets in the capital, Kingston, remained largely empty except for the lone stray dog crossing puddles and a handful of people walking briskly under tree branches waving in a stiff wind.“There is no infrastructure in the region that can withstand a Category 5,” Prime Minister Andrew Holness said. “The question now is the speed of recovery. That’s the challenge.”The storm is expected to make landfall on Tuesday and slice diagonally across the island. Shortly after, it is expected to hit Cuba.Melissa is the fifth most intense Atlantic basin hurricane on record by pressure, and the strongest such hurricane to make landfall since Hurricane Dorian in 2019, according to hurricane specialist and storm surge expert Michael Lowry.It is “a worst-case scenario unfolding for Jamaica,” he said.Landslides, fallen trees and numerous power outages were reported ahead of the storm, with officials in Jamaica cautioning that the cleanup and damage assessment would be slow. The storm is expected to enter near St. Elizabeth parish in the south and exit around St. Ann parish in the north, forecasters said.“Total structural failure is possible near the path of Melissa’s center,” the hurricane center said.A life-threatening storm surge of up to 13 feet is expected across southern Jamaica, with officials concerned about the impact on some hospitals along the coastline. Health Minister Christopher Tufton said some patients were relocated from the ground floor to the second floor, “and (we) hope that will suffice for any surge that will take place.”The storm already was blamed for seven deaths in the Caribbean, including three in Jamaica, three in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic, where another person remains missing. Jamaica braces for catastrophic damageMelissa was centered about 40 miles south-southeast of Negril, Jamaica, and about 235 miles southwest of Guantánamo, Cuba. The system had maximum sustained winds of 185 mph and was moving north-northeast at 9 mph, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.“We will get through it together,” said Evan Thompson, principal director at Jamaica’s meteorological service.Colin Bogle, a Mercy Corps adviser based near Kingston, said most families are sheltering in place despite the government ordering evacuations in flood-prone communities.“Many have never experienced anything like this before, and the uncertainty is frightening,” he said. “There is profound fear of losing homes and livelihoods, of injury, and of displacement.”Matthew Samuda, Jamaica’s water and environment minister, said he had more than 50 generators available to deploy after the storm, but warned people to set aside clean water and use it sparingly.“Every drop will count,” he said.Melissa takes aim at CubaMelissa also was expected to make landfall in eastern Cuba late Tuesday as a powerful hurricane.A hurricane warning was in effect for Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo and Holguin provinces, while a tropical storm warning was in effect for Las Tunas. Up to 20 inches of rain were forecast for parts of Cuba, along with a significant storm surge along the coast.Cuban officials said Monday that they were evacuating more than 600,000 people from the region, including Santiago, the island’s second-largest city.Melissa also has drenched the southern regions of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, with a tropical storm warning still in effect for Haiti.The hurricane was forecast to turn northeast after Cuba and strike the southeast Bahamas by Wednesday evening.A hurricane warning was in effect for the southeastern and central Bahamas, and a tropical storm warning was issued for the Turks and Caicos Islands.

KINGSTON, Jamaica —

Hurricane Melissa was set to pummel Jamaica on Tuesday as a catastrophic Category 5 storm, the strongest to lash the island since record-keeping began 174 years ago.

In a 10 a.m. update, the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said this is the “last chance to protect your life,” calling Melissa an “extremely dangerous” hurricane.

Hours before the storm, the Jamaican government said it had done all it could to prepare as it warned of catastrophic damage. The streets in the capital, Kingston, remained largely empty except for the lone stray dog crossing puddles and a handful of people walking briskly under tree branches waving in a stiff wind.

“There is no infrastructure in the region that can withstand a Category 5,” Prime Minister Andrew Holness said. “The question now is the speed of recovery. That’s the challenge.”

The storm is expected to make landfall on Tuesday and slice diagonally across the island. Shortly after, it is expected to hit Cuba.

Melissa is the fifth most intense Atlantic basin hurricane on record by pressure, and the strongest such hurricane to make landfall since Hurricane Dorian in 2019, according to hurricane specialist and storm surge expert Michael Lowry.

It is “a worst-case scenario unfolding for Jamaica,” he said.

Landslides, fallen trees and numerous power outages were reported ahead of the storm, with officials in Jamaica cautioning that the cleanup and damage assessment would be slow. The storm is expected to enter near St. Elizabeth parish in the south and exit around St. Ann parish in the north, forecasters said.

“Total structural failure is possible near the path of Melissa’s center,” the hurricane center said.

A life-threatening storm surge of up to 13 feet is expected across southern Jamaica, with officials concerned about the impact on some hospitals along the coastline. Health Minister Christopher Tufton said some patients were relocated from the ground floor to the second floor, “and (we) hope that will suffice for any surge that will take place.”

The storm already was blamed for seven deaths in the Caribbean, including three in Jamaica, three in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic, where another person remains missing.

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Jamaica braces for catastrophic damage

Melissa was centered about 40 miles south-southeast of Negril, Jamaica, and about 235 miles southwest of Guantánamo, Cuba. The system had maximum sustained winds of 185 mph and was moving north-northeast at 9 mph, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.

“We will get through it together,” said Evan Thompson, principal director at Jamaica’s meteorological service.

Colin Bogle, a Mercy Corps adviser based near Kingston, said most families are sheltering in place despite the government ordering evacuations in flood-prone communities.

“Many have never experienced anything like this before, and the uncertainty is frightening,” he said. “There is profound fear of losing homes and livelihoods, of injury, and of displacement.”

Matthew Samuda, Jamaica’s water and environment minister, said he had more than 50 generators available to deploy after the storm, but warned people to set aside clean water and use it sparingly.

“Every drop will count,” he said.

Melissa takes aim at Cuba

Melissa also was expected to make landfall in eastern Cuba late Tuesday as a powerful hurricane.

A hurricane warning was in effect for Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo and Holguin provinces, while a tropical storm warning was in effect for Las Tunas. Up to 20 inches of rain were forecast for parts of Cuba, along with a significant storm surge along the coast.

Cuban officials said Monday that they were evacuating more than 600,000 people from the region, including Santiago, the island’s second-largest city.

Melissa also has drenched the southern regions of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, with a tropical storm warning still in effect for Haiti.

The hurricane was forecast to turn northeast after Cuba and strike the southeast Bahamas by Wednesday evening.

A hurricane warning was in effect for the southeastern and central Bahamas, and a tropical storm warning was issued for the Turks and Caicos Islands.