Hurricane Melissa | Jamaica experiences a 'potentially unimaginable impact'

[uncgriff]

Jamaica braces as storm approaches – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

 

[05C40]

I saw a weather report that indicated this storm my be the strongest hurricane to hit Jamaica in recorded history. Given Jamaica's location, that may be catastrophically bad.

 

[ZZLPHeels]

The good news is that the storm is fairly small as far as hurricanes are concerned. It may be a cat 5, but 35 miles outside of the eye the sustained winds won't even reach hurricane force (74 mph).

 

[TangledUpInBlue06]

I wish I had faith the US will come to their aid once the storm passes.

 

[EyeballKid]

The good news is that the storm is fairly small as far as hurricanes are concerned. It may be a cat 5, but 35 miles outside of the eye the sustained winds won't even reach hurricane force (74 mph).

Still, considering that the storm is moving slowly and expected to dump 3-4 feet of rain…even sustained 50mph winds would be devastating. Most buildings in Jamaica aren’t exactly up to code.

 

[Zoo_View]

Still, considering that the storm is moving slowly and expected to dump 3-4 feet of rain…even sustained 50mph winds would be devastating. Most buildings in Jamaica aren’t exactly up to code.

Plus, eastern Jamaica is mountainous and hilly…..very steep.

Blue Mountain is 7,400+ feet above sea level. It’s not the only mountain in eastern Jamaica.

 

[donbosco]

I wish I had faith the US will come to their aid once the storm passes.

Have none.

 

[takingAdookie]

I wish I had faith the US will come to their aid once the storm passes.

You don't have faith Trump will shoot them some rolls of paper towels?

 

[lawtig02]

You don't have faith Trump will shoot them some rolls of paper towels?

Come on, now. We can't be expected to divert any of the immense naval power we have in the region right now from its critical focus on blowing boats out of the ocean.

 

[altmin]

I wish I had faith the US will come to their aid once the storm passes.

Canada has sent warships in the past to help Carribean islands hit by hurricanes and earthquakes, but it's a slow trip and they don't have the ability the US Navy has to provide aid.

 

[TangledUpInBlue06]

Canada has sent warships in the past to help Carribean islands hit by hurricanes and earthquakes, but it's a slow trip and they don't have the ability the US Navy has to provide aid.

It doesn't have to be a perfect response to be a meaningful one.

 

[Zoo_View]

Canada has sent warships in the past to help Carribean islands hit by hurricanes and earthquakes, but it's a slow trip and they don't have the ability the US Navy has to provide aid.

The British and French have been much better about staging naval vessels to Caribbean Islands damaged by hurricanes, earthquakes, and volcanoes than the U.S. has been.

Modern naval vessels have great ability to make potable water and produce electricity. Not to mention medical facilities.

 

[1moretimeagain]

Have none.

I have no faith the US government will provide sufficient aid, but I wouldn’t rule it out. Trump can be moved by powerful visuals, so hopefully Fox & Friends will air some.

 

[nycfan]

 

[bridgetender]

I wish I had faith the US will come to their aid once the storm passes.

 

[nycfan]

 

[05C40]

The good news is that the storm is fairly small as far as hurricanes are concerned. It may be a cat 5, but 35 miles outside of the eye the sustained winds won't even reach hurricane force (74 mph).

So the 35 miles outside the eye the winds drop off to less than 74 mph. But given that Jamaica is only 146 miles wide, that doesn't strike me as particularly reassuring news.

 

[nycfan]

So the 35 miles outside the eye the winds drop off to less than 74 mph. But given that Jamaica is only 146 miles wide, that doesn't strike me as particularly reassuring news.

At least they now think Kingston is outside the cone for the eye.

 

[Turd Ferguson]

Could be the flooding of Katrina with the winds of Andrew.

 

[Patb78]

The problem with this storm is how slow it’s moving. A storm’s speed directly affects how much rain it’s going to drop. Hopefully it will gain speed and spare Jamaica some of the beating it’s in for.