• Hurricane Melissa is set to make landfall in Jamaica any time.

  • The Category 5 storm is the strongest to lash the island since record-keeping began 174 years ago.

  • It is expected to slice diagonally across the island, from south to north, before hitting Cuba.

  • “There is no infrastructure in the region that can withstand a Category 5,” said Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

  • Jamaican officials warned residents that conditions will soon worsen, despite heavy rains already battering the island before the storm’s landfall.

  • The Category 5 storm is headed for the Caribbean, packing winds of up to 295 km/h (183 mph)

  • jordanlund@lemmy.worldMEnglish
    5·
    22 hours ago

    The worst bit seems to be it’s moving so damned slow. I saw a stat last night saying it was only going 2 to 5 mph, or 3.22 to 8 kmh.

    Jamaica is 51 miles wide, so it’s going to take a long while for the storm to pass over.