I generally try to avoid all hurricanes no matter the size. It's a great policy, but I'm not sure how one avoids something as big as Hurricane Melissa.
In fact, some people's job is to enter the thing in an airplane to scope it out:
Another pass:
The AP reports:
Hurricane Melissa intensified into a Category 5 storm Monday as it drew closer to Jamaica, where forecasters expected it to unleash catastrophic flooding, landslides and widespread damage. At that strength, it would be the strongest hurricane to hit the island since record-keeping began in 1851.
Blamed for seven deaths in the northern Caribbean as it headed toward the island, Melissa was on track to make landfall Tuesday in Jamaica before coming ashore in Cuba later in the day and then heading toward the Bahamas. It was not expected to affect the United States.
This is one mean storm, folks.
Here's the big bad girl from satellite:
The storm was already hammering Jamaica on Monday evening:
And here's a live look:
A bit more for you:
On Monday the storm "had maximum sustained winds of 175 mph." Thankfully for us, its westward track means it is "not expected to affect the United States."
Prayers up for those in the way of this thing.
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