dan11295

Wonder how much longer that Montego Bay stream stays up? That northern eye wall is very intense on radar.

Looks like its about to get much worse there very shortly.

That gust report in Montego bay seems a bit high, they still got 20-30 minutes before they get into the eyewall based on Pilon, Cuba radar.

Unless Melissa really starting moving NE soon Montego Bay is going to get the eyewall.

Looks like Savanna la Mar might get into the western eyewall with this continued north movement.

Looks like Melissa really trying to hug the coastline for a bit prior to finally being pulled inland.

Based on Pilon, Cuba radar eyewall probably coming ashore in next 45-60 minutes

Last dropsondes suggests Melissa has peaked/leveled off with the 895 mb 7 kt. Not going to matter much at this point though as far as Jamaica goes. This is basically going to be landfall intensity.

Seeing that dropsonde on a storm 2-3 hours from landfall is terrifying.

Can't imagine the wind gusts that will occur at elevated locations with this storm. Fortunately a lot of buildings there are concrete block at least.

I wonder if Melissa had a slight rise in pressure during the eyewall meld, and is now steady state or slightly intensifying again. Almost certainly not weakening at the moment.

#9 all time in Atlantic Basin by pressure

Just a reminder that late season storms can show colder cloud tops than normal especially at night compared to earlier season storms. Not that Melissa isn't an intense hurricane, which it is.

11230 1632N 07836W 6972 02308 9028 +223 +126 025015 020 016 002 00 902.8 mb extrap Wonder if thats a bit low though.

Look at the radar. heavy rain has been pounding most the island for the past 6 hours. Precip echos surrounding the eye seemed a bit less intense on the radar loop during the last 2-3 hours. Don't know if there is some attenuation involved since Melissa obviously still has great IR presentation. Not sure how long we will have access to radar once the storm moves closer.