Hurricane Melissa

[Kds86z]

 

[akt1985]

Melissa made landfall in Cuba around 3 AM Eastern as a Category 3.

 

[tornado examiner]

Melissa has been by far the most impressive Atlantic storm of the decade and it's not even close. Unfortunately it will also likely end up being the most disastrous when things are all said and done,

 

[tornado examiner]

Melissa is finally being fully ripped apart. I highly doubt she’ll be able to reintensify after Cuba.

“Right?”

 

[akt1985]

Melissa is finally below Major Hurricane status.

 

[Mike S]

I hope Josh Morgerman is able to get his hands on his Kestrels. He places a few in various locations on chases to gather as much data as possible. The reanalysis of Melissa as she approached and landed on Jamaica is going to be very interesting, and his data will be a primary tool in that analysis.

 

[tornado examiner]

Max olsen was also chasing Melissa and hasn't posted an update since yesterday.

 

[WeathermanLeprechaun]

Both of them likely lost cell service. Max did mention cell service wasn't the best when someone asked him about it on a community post he made on YT.

 

[Kds86z]

 

[lake.effect]

Some damage videos are starting to trickle in from the worst hit areas (for wind at least) and I must say, so far I'm impressed at how well most of the structures have appeared to have held up.

It looks like a lot of Jamaica homes are made of concrete or stucco, which is obviously sturdy material for heavy winds. Not sure how the building codes work down there but most of the buildings appear to be standing at least.

 

[tornado examiner]

Mainly looks like just roof loss and the complete collapse of weaker structures.

 

[akt1985]

A Hurricane Warning is now in effect for Bermuda.

 

[jiharris0220]

Before and after of the Black River Court House in Black River, haven’t seen damage like this to a building of this construction since what Haiyan did to that church.

 

[Clancy]

Before and after of the Black River Court House in Black River, haven’t seen damage like this to a building of this construction since what Haiyan did to that church.
View attachment 48161View attachment 48163

The way it's distributed debris clutter and disturbed ground features such as low-level vegetation feels very tornado-like.

 

[jiharris0220]

Jesus, so many concrete buildings destroyed. Keep in mind Dorian also did this as well but to a far lesser degree and it had the advantage of having a forward speed of only 3mph.

 

[Central Ohio Wx]

The way it's distributed debris clutter and disturbed ground features such as low-level vegetation feels very tornado-like.

There is what appears to be significant debarking to multiple trees on a hill near Black River in a video; I'll share images when I get home.

 

[tornado examiner]

Melissa’s scar on the ocean and on land are visible in zoom earth satellite.

 

[Grand Poo Bah]

Melissa’s scar on the ocean and on land are visible in zoom earth satellite.

Where's the pics?

 

[tornado examiner]

Where's the pics?

Upwelling of the ocean and discoloration on the west side of Jamaica. It's faint but visible.

 

[lake.effect]

From all the videos I've seen, the wind damage around Bethel Town, Westmoreland Parish seems to be the worst. Looks like widespread E3-EF4 damage across that entire town and its surrounding areas.

Melissa might be a rare case in which the worst storm damage is actually inland due to the amplification of wind at altitude and the (relatively) modest storm surge. Bethel Town's elevation is listed at 931 feet above sea level.

There are smaller communities in that area as well, some of which are higher and closer to the sea. I fear those might be completely gone.