By Todd Nelson, filling in for Douglas:
It’s hard to put into words what residents in Jamaica will be dealing with today and for many weeks and months ahead.
Hurricane Melissa will make landfall early today along the southwest coast of Jamaica as the strongest on record to ever to hit the island. Complete structural failure will be likely for many near the eyewall as it scrapes across the region today. Rainfall amounts of 20 to 30 inches will create widespread inland flooding and mudslides.
Hurricane Gilbert in 1988 was a Category 3 at landfall and is the costliest hurricane to hit Jamaica, with $2.5 billion dollars in damage. Melissa will be either a Category 4 or 5 at landfall.
Closer to home, beneficial and much-needed rains will fall much of the day. Some models project more than 1 inch of rain west of the metro. This will cut into the recent rainfall deficit some, but we need more. More than 22% of the state is considered to be in a moderate drought.
Looking ahead to Halloween, temperatures will be fairly seasonable with a few spooky sprinkles possible, but no snow!
