Yesterday Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica as a category 5 hurricane. While several category 5 hurricanes have made landfall some even at category 5 strength. Melissa based on pressure was one of the strongest observed land falling hurricanes in history for the Atlantic Basin.

Indeed, I have been tracking hurricanes since I was 3 years old. When I officially became a Meteorologist in 2010 I have tracked some very powerful hurricanes. However, In my near 41 years of existence I can only recall 2 hurricanes that made landfall with a pressure at 900 millibars or below. Gilbert in 1988 which made landfall in Mexico as a category 5 hurricane with a low pressure of 899/900 millibars. Now Melissa with a low pressure of 892 millibars. In fact, there has only been 4 hurricanes that have made landfall with a pressure of 900 or less in the Atlantic Basin. Labor Day (1935) 892 millibars at pressure, Camille 1969 900 millibars at landfall, 1988 Gilbert 899/900 millibar at landfall and Melissa.

Melissa's winds were at 185 mph at landfall. However, this might be a low amount. Satellite data indicated winds of Twain5 mph at landfall. Only 1 hurricane in the Atlantic Basin has had 190 mph winds or greater at peak strength and that was 1980's Hurricane Allen. I would not be surprised if the winds were not increased in post season analysis based on observations and satellite data. Even if the winds are kept at 185 mph it does not change anything.

Like most late fall hurricanes Melissa developed in the Caribbean. Melissa developed in the East/Central Caribbean. Due to the warm waters the newly formed storm was able to close its circulation with 45-50 mph winds. However, wind shear kept Melissa from strengthening.

As Melissa slowly moved the shear relaxed and allowed Melissa to strengthen. Winds increased from 45 mph to 60 mph and from 60 mph to 75 mph. Due to a moist atmosphere, no wind shear and very warm water temperatures. Melissa underwent rapid deepening. 75 mph winds went to 100 mph, then to 115 mph then 145 mph. But Melissa was not done. Winds went from 145 mph to 165 mph. Due to be over warmer water Melissa reached its peak at 185 mph before landfall.

It is no surprise that Melissa got strong. The Western Caribbean Temperatures from Jamaica to Central America and the Yucatan region of Mexico has some of the warmest waters in the world. In fact, it rivals the very warm waters from Tawain to the Phillipines in the Western Pacific, where Hurricanes are called Typhoons in that region.

However, unlike other powerful hurricanes Melissa was moving less than 5 mph. Due to Melissa's very slow movement it got to spend more time over the warm water temperatures of 86-90 degrees.

Melissa made landfall in Jamaica as a category 5, Cuba as a category 3, and will likely strike the Bahamas as a category 3 or category 2 hurricane. Before Melissa goes out to sea the Hurricane could even strike Bermuda as a high end category 1 hurricane.

Melissa will go down in history as one of the strongest hurricanes in the Atlantic.

Reading about Melissa sounds crazy! I never knew much about Hurricanes and how they come to be, how they get stronger etc. I suppose I'm pretty lucky living in Belgium where we seldom even get a big storm at the coast, let along this.

If something like Melissa was coming towards your house, do you just pray? Like it sounds to me that your best bet is to just bunker up and hope you make it. Of course I am also basing all this on the big waves in certain swimming pool, where I remember them knocking me off my feet despite it being thousands times smaller than this.

Furret: If your right on the coast your best bet is to evacuate as the coastal areas get the storm surge. If you are inland a little bit you treat it like a tornado and hunker down. Yes as a Christian prayer is very important too.