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Photo via CMC
HAMILTON, Bermuda, CMC – Hurricane Melissa is quickly moving away from Bermuda on Friday after leaving a trail of death, damage and destruction in several Caribbean countries this week.
The storm, which at one time had gained a category 5 status, is expected to become an extratropical cyclone later on Friday and was about 255 miles north of the British Overseas Territory.
It has maximum sustained winds of 90 miles per hour, and the Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that Melissa is expected to become a strong post-tropical cyclone later today, with gradual weakening forecast over the weekend.
National Security Minister Michael Weeks said that while the storm is moving away from the island, citizens remain on guard “out of an abundance of caution”.
“I realise that this has been a busy hurricane season for us and that our resilience has been tested. However, I implore all residents to remain vigilant while we navigate another natural threat to our way of life.
“We are renowned for our ability to cope with such adversity, and I am confident that we shall all play our part to keep ourselves and each other safe,” he added.
The Meteorological Service of Bermuda has discontinued the hurricane warning for Bermuda, and the NHC said that after Melissa becomes post-tropical, a brief period of heavy rain and gusty winds is possible over the southern Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland tonight.
It said Melissa is moving toward the northeast near 41 mph, adding “this general motion is expected to continue into Saturday, followed by a gradual slowdown and turn toward the east-northeast later this weekend.
The NHC said that water levels should continue to subside this morning for Bermuda and that surf swells generated by Melissa will continue to affect portions of Hispaniola, Cuba, the Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and Bermuda during the next couple of days.
Meanwhile, in Jamaica, where several people were killed and the authorities are continuing their assessment of the damage caused, Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett has set a firm target for the island’s tourism industry to return to full operation by December 15 – the official start of the winter tourism season.
He said in order to deliver on that goal, the ministry has activated a high-level Hurricane Melissa Recovery Task Force and a companion Tourism Resilience Coordination Committee to synchronise public and private sector action.
Jamaica has been promised financial and other forms of support from neighbouring Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries and the international community.
