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Hurricane Melissa hit Jamaica on Tuesday as a Category 5 storm, the worst ever to hit the island nation.
the storm, projected by The weather channel which will be the first Category 5 landing since 2019 in the Atlantic, hit Jamaica with wind gusts of 160 to 180 mph, according to an AccuWeather alert seen by Travel + Leisure. The storm was expected to bring with it “catastrophic winds, life-threatening storm surge, and torrential rain.” Before Melissa, Jamaica had never been directly hit by a Category 4 or 5 hurricane.
“Intense storm surge, extreme rainfall and destructive winds can damage critical infrastructure across Jamaica. A catastrophic storm surge of up to 18 feet is possible just east of where the storm makes landfall,” AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter said in a statement seen by T+L. “Especially in areas where the core of the destructive winds travel, from south to north across the island, some communities may be unrecognizable given the level of catastrophic damage.”
As of 11:30 a.m. ET, more than 35 percent of the island’s customers had already experienced power outages. according to the Jamaica Public Service Company.
The catastrophic storm was also affecting travelers to the island, where there are still about 25,000 tourists in the country. The New York Times notedquoting Jamaica’s education minister. She told the newspaper that officials were coordinating with hotels to ensure their safety.
Tourism plays an important role in Jamaica’s economy and will bring the nation $4.3 billion in 2024. according to the Jamaica Information Service.
On Monday, several cruise lines announced they would avoid Jamaica altogether, including Celebrity Cruises, Carnival Cruises, Disney Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean. USA today reported. These ships would plan to sail further west to ports in Central America and along Mexico’s Caribbean coast, including Costa Maya and Cozumel, or extend time in the Bahamas.
Passengers scheduled to sail on upcoming cruises were advised to check with their individual cruise lines for itinerary updates.
Flights to and from the island were also affected. Jamaica’s three international airports:Norman Manley International Airport (KIN) near the capital city of Kingston, Ian Fleming International Airport (OCJ) near Ocho Rios, and Sangster International Airport (MBJ) in Montego Bay—were forced to close, according to the United States Embassy in Jamaica.
As a result, major airlines instituted flight waivers, allowing travelers to change their flights without incurring additional charges. These include Delta Airlines, united airlines, american airlines, JetBlueand Southwest.
After making landfall in Jamaica, Hurricane Melissa was forecast to move east of Cuba before heading toward the southeastern Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands on Wednesday. according The weather channel.
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