Tropical Storm Melissa moved slowly across the Caribbean Sea, posing threats of landslides and severe flooding to Jamaica and southern Hispaniola. The storm caused a fatality in southern Haiti and left several others injured due to flooding in the central Artibonite area. Authorities advised residents in flood-prone areas to relocate to higher ground.
Located approximately 345 kilometers southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, and 440 kilometers southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Melissa maintained sustained winds of 80 km/h and was tracking northwest at 7 km/h, as reported by the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami. A hurricane watch was issued for Jamaica and the southwestern peninsula of Haiti, with a tropical storm warning in effect for Jamaica.
Forecasters anticipated Melissa to remain over open waters but move closer to Jamaica and southwestern Haiti, potentially strengthening significantly by late Friday and into the weekend. Experts warned of the storm’s slow pace and warm waters, suggesting the possibility of rapid intensification into a Category 5 hurricane.
Local preparations were underway, with shelters being readied in Jamaica and emergency measures implemented. Officials in Jamaica emphasized readiness for potential severe impacts, with anticipated heavy rainfall and flooding in the eastern regions. In the Dominican Republic, schools and businesses were closed in the alerted provinces, and water supply disruptions affected over half a million customers.
Concerns were raised about Haiti’s vulnerability to the storm due to past devastating experiences, compounded by issues such as erosion, gang violence, poverty, and weak governance. The UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs allocated $4 million US to aid vulnerable populations in Haiti ahead of the storm, focusing on evacuation support, emergency shelter, and essential supplies.
Melissa marks the 13th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season and the first to develop in the Caribbean this year. NOAA’s earlier predictions of an above-normal season with 13 to 18 named storms, including potential major hurricanes, continue as the hurricane season progresses from June 1 to November 30.
