January 1, Hurricane Melissa Shocks With Sudden Power Surge

Wyatt’s Take

• Melissa jumped from tropical storm to Category 3 hurricane overnight.
• Danger grows as Melissa could hit Category 5 strength soon.
• Caribbean islands face historic threats and heavy damage.

Hurricane Melissa ramped up from a storm to a major hurricane late Saturday, putting Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic in danger’s path.

Meteorologists say it could grow even stronger, possibly reaching Category 5 in a matter of days.

The National Hurricane Center warned Jamaicans to shelter up, saying destructive winds and rain have already arrived.

They stressed

“Extensive infrastructural damage, long-duration power and communication outages, and potentially prolonged isolation of communities.”

With winds at 115 mph and only 125 miles southeast of Kingston, the storm already caused deadly flooding and landslides.

The Dominican Republic lost three people in earlier downpours.

In Haiti, two died from a landslide and another in a tree accident during Wednesday’s flooding.

Folks in these islands need to hunker down and stay ready for the worst.

Wyatt Matters

Storms like Melissa show how quickly life can turn upside down.

Heartland values tell us to look out for neighbors and prepare for hard times, no matter where trouble hits.

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