Melissa Threatens Jamaica With ‘Total Structural Failure’ (2)

Hurricane Melissa plowed toward Jamaica as a powerful Category 5 storm, threatening to bring widespread destruction to the island.

Melissa’s top winds reached 175 miles (282 kilometers) per hour, up from 165 mph earlier, the US National Hurricane Center said in an advisory at 2 p.m. New York time.

The storm’s winds have the potential to cause “total structural failure,” the center said. That’s especially true for mountainsides and hills exposed to the brunt of the storm, where wind speeds could register up to 30% stronger.

Melissa’s gusts could fluctuate somewhat in the coming hours, but it’s certain to ...