Caribbean nations initiated widespread cleanup efforts Wednesday following the โฃpassage of Hurricane โคMelissa, โขoneโ of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record.โ Jamaica, Cuba, andโ the Bahamas sustained significant damage from the storm’s powerful winds, torrential rainfall, and storm surges.
Melissa initially made landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday as a โฃCategory 5 hurricane, prompting the government to declare aโ national disaster. โThe U.S. Hurricane Center (NHC) classified it among the most intenseโ hurricanes ever observed in the Atlantic basin. While the storm weakenedโค asโฃ it moved across the โฃregion,its impact remains substantial,with recovery operations โunderway โขand forecasts predicting a close pass near Bermuda Thursday evening.
The hurricane โขbrought damaging winds and โheavy rains to Jamaica, causing widespread flooding and infrastructure โฃdamage. โขAuthorities have โnot โฃyet releasedโ a completeโข assessment โof the devastation, but early reports โคindicate significantโฃ disruptionโข to essential services.
Melissa continued its path northwestward,striking Cuba on Tuesday with hurricane-force โคwinds. The storm than moved over the Bahamas on Wednesday, though diminished to a Category 1, still delivering impactful winds and rainfall.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Melissa was reclassified as a Category 2 hurricane and projected to pass near Bermuda Thursday evening. Residents are preparing for potential impacts, including strong winds and high waves. The NHC continues to monitor the storm’s trajectory and intensity, providing updatedโ forecasts โคand warnings.
