The United States National Hurricane Center, in its intermediate advisory at 2:00 PM EDT (1800 UTC) this Saturday, October 25, confirmed that Melissa is now a Category 1 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 120 km/h.
The center of the organization is located about 230 kilometers southeast of Kingston, capital of Jamaica, and maintains a very slow movement towards the west-northwest at 2 km/h.
Melissa is forecast to rapidly intensify over the next 48 hours and could reach major hurricane status (Category 3 or higher) by Sunday.
CNN Experts They warn that the hurricane could reach category 4 or 5 before reaching Jamaicaand even what would result in a catastrophic impact on the Caribbean island.
The center of Melissa is expected to move near or over Jamaica over the weekend and early next week, and approach eastern Cuba in the middle of next week.
In Alert Phase
In its information note number 2, the General Staff of the Civil Defense of Cuba established the Alert Phase, starting at 3:00 p.m. this Saturday, for the provinces of Guantánamo, Santiago de Cuba, Granma, Holguín, Las Tunas and Camagüey and the Information Phase for the provinces of Ciego de Ávila and Sancti Spíritus.
“The population is directed to stay informed through the national media, official social media profiles and disciplinedly comply with the instructions given by local authorities and Civil Defense.”
