Tropical Storm Melissa Threatens Caribbean Islands
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Tropical Storm Melissa was nearly stationary in the central Caribbean early Friday, with forecasters warning it could soon strengthen and brush past Jamaica as a powerful hurricane while unleashing catastrophic flash flooding and landslides in southern Haiti.
The erratic storm was expected to drop copious rain on Jamaica and the southern regions of Haiti and the Dominican Republic through the weekend. At least three people were reported killed in Haiti.
Storm Warning and Preparations
“The rainfall is a huge risk with the storm,” said Michael Brennan, director of the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami. “Rainfall has historically been the biggest cause of loss of life of tropical storms and hurricanes in the Caribbean.”
The storm was located about 185 miles southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, and about 260 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. It had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph and was moving east-southeast at 1 mph, the U.S. center said.
A hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning were in effect for Jamaica and the southwestern peninsula of Haiti.
Impact on Haiti and the Dominican Republic
The National Hurricane Center warned that heavy rainfall will cause “catastrophic flash flooding and landslides across southwestern Haiti by this weekend into early next week.”
It warned that strong winds could also potentially last for a day or more over Haiti’s Tiburon peninsula.
Haiti’s Civil Protection Agency said Friday that a landslide in Port-au-Prince killed two people and injured another, with the death toll rising to three. Earlier this week, a large tree fell on an elderly man in southern Haiti and killed him, while five other people in the country’s central region were injured in flooding,
The U.N. said it has prepared more than 100 emergency shelters in Haiti’s southern region.
Forecast and Expected Damage
Melissa was expected to slowly begin moving closer to Jamaica over the weekend. It was forecast to strengthen into a hurricane by Saturday and become a major hurricane by the end of the weekend, possibly reaching Category 4 status by Tuesday.
Forecasters said Jamaica’s eastern region could get up to 14 inches of rain that could lead to flooding and landslides because the ground is already saturated from recent heavy rains unrelated to the storm.
The storm is moving so slowly that parts of Jamaica could experience hurricane conditions for 72 hours or longer, said Alex DaSilva, AccuWeather’s lead hurricane expert.
“Melissa is evolving into a slow-motion disaster,” he said. “Millions of people are at risk of catastrophic impacts. We are increasingly concerned about the threat of a humanitarian disaster unfolding, especially if this storm stalls.”
Preparations in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic
Schools, health centers and government offices closed across Jamaica on Thursday, with authorities warning that all airports would close within 24 hours if a hurricane warning is issued.
“The situation is indeed serious,” said Matthew Samuda, Jamaica’s minister of economic growth and job creation.
Up to 14 inches of rain also was forecast for southern Haiti and the southern Dominican Republic, with higher amounts possible through Sunday.
The storm knocked out dozens of water supply systems in the neighboring Dominican Republic, affecting nearly a million customers. It also downed trees and traffic lights and unleashed a couple of small landslides.
All public schools across the Dominican Republic were closed Friday, while government offices in 12 provinces under alert would do the same, officials said.
Atlantic Hurricane Season
Melissa is the 13th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, and the first named storm to form in the Caribbean this year.
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had predicted an above-normal season with 13 to 18 named storms. Of those, five to nine were forecast to become hurricanes, including two to five major hurricanes, which pack winds of 111 mph or greater.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30.
Conclusion
Tropical Storm Melissa poses a significant threat to the Caribbean islands, with forecasters warning of catastrophic flash flooding and landslides in southern Haiti and heavy rainfall in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. The storm is expected to strengthen into a hurricane by Saturday and become a major hurricane by the end of the weekend, possibly reaching Category 4 status by Tuesday.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the current status of Tropical Storm Melissa?
A: Tropical Storm Melissa is currently located in the central Caribbean, with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph and moving east-southeast at 1 mph.
Q: What is the forecast for Tropical Storm Melissa?
A: Melissa is expected to strengthen into a hurricane by Saturday and become a major hurricane by the end of the weekend, possibly reaching Category 4 status by Tuesday.
Q: Which islands are under threat from Tropical Storm Melissa?
A: Jamaica, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic are under threat from Tropical Storm Melissa, with forecasters warning of catastrophic flash flooding and landslides in southern Haiti and heavy rainfall in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic.
Q: What is the Atlantic hurricane season?
A: The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, with the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicting an above-normal season with 13 to 18 named storms.
