500 PM EDT SUMMARY
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LOCATION...18.5N 77.7W
ABOUT 15 MI...20 KM E OF MONTEGO BAY JAMAICA
ABOUT 200 MI...325 KM SW OF GUANTANAMO CUBA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...145 MPH...230 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNE OR 25 DEGREES AT 8 MPH...13 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...921 MB...27.20 INCHES
Hurricane Melissa:
Catastrophic winds, flash flooding + storm surge ongoing in Jamaica... REMAIN SHELTERED IN YOUR SAFE PLACE...
Melissa remains a powerful Category 4 hurricane over NW Jamaica... As of 4:00 PM EDT Tue Oct 28, the center of
Melissa was located near 18.4, -77.9 w/ movement NNE at 8 mph. The minimum central pressure was 914 mb w/
maximum sustained winds of about 150 mph.
Key Messages:
1. Jamaica: Remain in a safe shelter tonight. Damaging winds will
continue over parts of Jamaica this evening. Catastrophic flash
flooding + landslides are expected across the island tonight w/
widespread infrastructure damage, power + communication
outages, isolating communities.
2. Haiti + the Dominican Republic: Catastrophic flash flooding
+ landslides are expected across southwestern Haiti + southern
parts of the Dominican Republic during the next day or so. In
Haiti, extensive damage + isolation of communities is likely.
Tropical storm conditions are expected later today + Wednesday.
3. Eastern Cuba: Heavy rainfall, flash flooding + landslides are expected
soon. Life-threatening storm surge + damaging winds are likely to begin
later today. Seek safe shelter.
4. Southeastern + Central Bahamas + the Turks + Caicos: Hurricane
conditions, life-threatening storm surge + heavy rainfall are expected
across parts of the southeastern + central Bahamas on Wednesday.
Complete preparations by tonight + follow local official guidance.
Tropical storm conditions, heavy rains + and significant storm surge
are expected in the Turks + Caicos Islands on Wednesday.
5. Bermuda: Hurricane conditions + heavy rainfall are possible in
Bermuda beginning Thursday or Thursday night where a Hurricane
Watch is now in effect.
FORECAST POSITIONS + MAX WINDS
INIT 28/2100Z 18.5N 77.7W 125 KT 145 MPH
12H 29/0600Z 19.9N 76.7W 120 KT 140 MPH
24H 29/1800Z 22.2N 75.3W 100 KT 115 MPH
36H 30/0600Z 25.0N 73.2W 95 KT 110 MPH
48H 30/1800Z 28.9N 70.0W 90 KT 105 MPH
60H 31/0600Z 33.8N 64.8W 85 KT 100 MPH
72H 31/1800Z 39.0N 58.3W 70 KT 80 MPH
96H 01/1800Z 48.4N 42.2W 50 KT 60 MPH...POST-TROP/EXTRATROP
120H 02/1800Z 54.8N 25.1W 40 KT 45 MPH...POST-TROP/EXTRATROP