Hurricane Melissa path: Monitoring the devastating storm after landfall

Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday afternoon as a Class 5 hurricane — one of the crucial highly effective hurricane landfalls on document within the Atlantic basin.

Over the course of the day Tuesday, the storm was downgraded first to a Class 4 after which a Class 3 hurricane after landfall in Jamaica.

Right here is Melissa’s projected path: 

Melissa is now a Class 3 hurricane, with most sustained winds decreased to 125 mph because it makes its method to Cuba.

Catastrophic winds, flash flooding and storm surge continued to hit components of Jamaica, which needs to be ready for intensive infrastructure injury and long-lasting energy outages.

Melissa is anticipated to make one other landfall over japanese Cuba in a single day.

It’s forecast to stay a serious and highly effective hurricane because it strikes northeastward throughout Cuba from Tuesday evening by way of Wednesday morning, then ultimately weaken throughout the Bahamas to a Class 2 hurricane by Wednesday afternoon.

By Wednesday evening, Melissa is forecast to be again over the open Atlantic earlier than approaching Bermuda by Thursday night as a potential Class 2 hurricane.

Melissa is bringing 15 inches to 30 inches of rain to Jamaica on Tuesday, with localized storm totals as much as 40 inches.

As much as 25 inches of rain is feasible for Cuba and as much as 10 inches potential for the Bahamas.

These totals may end in life-threatening flash flooding with quite a few landslides potential in Jamaica and Cuba from Tuesday by way of Wednesday.

There’s the potential for vital storm surge as much as 12 ft alongside the southeast coast of Cuba from Tuesday evening into Wednesday, together with massive and damaging waves.

Storm surge within the southeastern Bahamas may attain as much as 8 ft on Wednesday.

The East Coast might expertise rip currents, tough surf and a few seashore erosion this week as Melissa heads out to sea.