"As Category 5 hurricane Melissa bears down on Jamaica, it is poised to be the worst storm to ever hit the Caribbean island, surpassing the damage from Hurricane Gilbert in 1988. Gilbert, which hit Jamaica as a Category 4 hurricane, sent 19 feet of storm surge slamming into the eastern shore of the island and brought torrential rains and destructive winds. It killed 49 people, destroyed 100,000 homes and did $700 million in damage, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration."
"Jamaica is no stranger to storms, but it has only been hit directly by five major ones (those of Category 3 or stronger), according to the best available historical records, which go back to the late 19th century. All of those major storms were either Category 3 or Category 4we don't know of any in recorded history that hit the island as a Category 5. And Melissa is in rarefied company even among already rare Category 5 stormsit is exceptionally intense f"
Category 5 Hurricane Melissa is unusually strong and slow-moving, increasing risks to Jamaica. Gilbert struck Jamaica in 1988 as a Category 4, produced a 19-foot storm surge, torrential rains and destructive winds, killed 49 people, destroyed 100,000 homes and caused $700 million in damage, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Melissa is stronger than Gilbert, will approach from a direction that could expose more coastline to surge, and will move more slowly, prolonging torrential rains. Jamaica has five recorded direct hits by major hurricanes since the late 19th century and no recorded Category 5 landfalls.
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