Troup County Weather Alerts

MONSTER: The textbook 'buzz saw' appearance of Melissa tells me that it is still strengthening, as cloud-tops continue to cool in the bands that are wrapping around the center. The latest update from the NHC has winds of 175 mph with gusts more than 200 mph. This is almost the maximum that we think tropical systems can reach - there will be fluctuations in the intensity between now and landfall as the eyewall goes through cycles of replacing itself. Either way, this will be a devastating strike on the west side of Jamaica.