Hurricane Melissa has strengthened to a category 5 storm with sustained winds of 160mph, prompting urgent warnings across the Caribbean. The hurricane, which began as a cluster of thunderstorms off west Africa, is forecast to make landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday, potentially becoming the most powerful storm to strike the island directly since records began.
Melissa's slow movement, averaging barely 5mph, is expected to exacerbate the impact, bringing extreme rainfall totals of 200-400mm across Jamaica by Tuesday evening, with up to 1,000mm in some areas. South-eastern Cuba could see similar amounts from late Tuesday into Wednesday.
The US National Hurricane Center has warned of extensive infrastructure damage, long-duration power and communication outages, and the isolation of communities. Life-threatening flash flooding, storm surges, and landslides are also likely.
Meanwhile, New Zealand has been battered by two powerful storms in the past week. The second storm triggered rare red warnings for wind, with gusts exceeding 90mph in several populated areas. The storms caused widespread damage, including roofs torn from buildings, downed electricity poles, and the closure of schools and businesses.
About 90,000 homes lost power on Thursday, and transport networks were severely disrupted, with road and rail links closed due to flooding and landslides. A man died in Wellington after being hit by a falling branch while walking in a park.
