KINGSTON, Jamaica – With Hurricane Melissa expected to make landfall Tuesday, the Meteorological Service of Jamaica is reminding citizens that a hurricane warning is still in effect for the country.

According to the latest bulletin at 7:00 am, the centre of Hurricane Melissa was located near latitude 17.5 degrees north, longitude 78.1 degrees west. This is 148 kilometres (92 miles) west southwest of Kingston, or 90 kilometres (55 miles) south-southeast of Negril Point, Jamaica.

Hurricane Melissa is moving toward the north-northeast near 11 km/h (seven mph). A turn toward the northeast with an increase in forward speed is expected later Tuesday, followed by a faster northeastward motion on Wednesday and Thursday.

On the forecast track, Melissa is expected to make landfall across Jamaica in the vicinity of western St Elizabeth/eastern Westmoreland, move across the island, then move across southeastern Cuba on Wednesday morning.

Maximum sustained winds are near 280 km/h (175 mph) with higher gusts. Melissa is a category five hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Melissa is expected to reach Jamaica and southeastern Cuba as an extremely dangerous major hurricane, and it will still be at hurricane strength when it moves across the southeastern Bahamas.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 45 km (30 miles) from the centre, and tropical- storm-force winds extend outward up to 315 km (195 miles). Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, Jamaica, recently reported a sustained wind of 69 km/h (43 mph) and a gust of 93 km/h (58 mph). Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica, recently reported a sustained wind of 61 km/h (38 mph) and a gust of 87 km/h (54 mph).

Doppler radar and satellite images show that the outer bands of Hurricane Melissa cover most of Jamaica, and have been producing moderate to heavy rainfall over the island. Data obtained from the weather station network indicate amounts exceeding 100 mm (four inches) in parts of southern parishes.

Hurricane Melissa is expected to produce rainfall amounts reaching 350-750 mm (15-30 inches) over parts of Jamaica in the next couple of days, especially over central and eastern parishes, with higher amounts over hilly terrain. Catastrophic flash floods and landslides are likely.

Catastrophic hurricane-force wind conditions are currently occurring across southern and western sections of Jamaica, and is expected to spread across most of the island later Tuesday.

Life-threatening storm surge, accompanied by large and destructive waves, is likely along the south coast of Jamaica on Tuesday, peaking at nine to 13 feet above ground level near and to the east of where the centre of Melissa makes landfall. On the northwestern coast, there is also the possibility of one to three foot storm surge above ground level.

Small craft operators, including fishers on the cays and banks, are reminded to remain in safe harbour until all warning messages have been lifted and wind and sea conditions have returned to normal.