Melissa strikes Jamaica, tied as most powerful Atlantic storm to come ashore
Hurricane Melissa made landfall in southwest Jamaica near New Hope on Tuesday at 1 p.m. ET with incredibly powerful sustained winds gusting to 185 mph.
In the National Hurricane Center’s update noting the precise time and location of landfall, specialist Larry Kelly called Melissa an “extremely dangerous and life-threatening” hurricane. Melissa brings very heavy rain, devastating waves and destructive winds to the small Caribbean island that is home to about 3 million people.
The effects on the island will certainly be catastrophic and prolonged.
A record hurricane in every way
By all accounts, Melissa is an extraordinary and catastrophic storm.
Strengthening overnight and then maintaining its incredible 190 mph intensity, Melissa tied the 1935 Labor Day hurricane as the most powerful hurricane to strike a landmass in the Atlantic basin, which includes the United States, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean islands.
Melissa also ranked the Labor Day storm, which hit the Florida Keys, as the most intense storm to make landfall, measured by central pressure at 892 millibars.
Overall, Melissa is tied for the second strongest hurricane, measured by winds, ever observed in the Atlantic basin, behind Hurricane Allen and its 300 km/h winds in 1980. Only Hurricanes Wilma (882 millibars) and Gilbert (888 millibars) recorded lower offshore pressures.
