Melissa Could Become a Hurricane on Thursday as It Moves Toward Haiti, Jamaica
Tropical Storm Melissa is moving slowly toward southwestern Haiti and Jamaica, with forecasts suggesting it could strengthen into a hurricane by Thursday, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC).
The NHC has issued a hurricane watch for southwestern Haiti, extending from the Dominican Republic border to Port-au-Prince, and a tropical storm watch for Jamaica.
The system continues to move across the Caribbean Sea, threatening to bring heavy rainfall and flooding to parts of Haiti and Jamaica through the rest of the week.
Hurricane Conditions Possible
The NHC warned that hurricane conditions are possible in the watch area in Haiti beginning Thursday night, while Jamaica could start experiencing tropical storm conditions between Thursday and Friday.
As of the latest advisory, the center of Melissa was located approximately 495 kilometers (305 miles) south-southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and 540 kilometers (335 miles) southeast of Kingston, Jamaica. Melissa currently has maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour (50 mph) and is moving west-northwest at just 4 kilometers per hour (2 mph).
Rough Seas Expected
The NHC also cautioned about strong swells and rip currents that are expected to impact the coasts of Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and eastern Cuba in the coming days.
Local authorities are urging residents to stay informed through national weather services and to follow safety recommendations due to the potential for heavy rainfall, flash flooding, and landslides in mountainous and coastal areas.
Rainfall Totals
Melissa’s rains could total 12 to 25 centimeters (5 to 10 inches) across southern Haiti, southern Dominican Republic, and eastern Jamaica through Saturday, with localized higher amounts that could cause flash floods and landslides. Northern areas of these countries may see 5 to 10 centimeters (2 to 4 inches), while Aruba and Puerto Rico could receive 2 to 7 centimeters (1 to 3 inches).
According to the Miami-based NHC, Melissa is expected to gradually strengthen and may reach hurricane status on Thursday as it approaches southwestern Haiti and Jamaica.
So far, the Atlantic hurricane season has produced 13 named storms: hurricanes Erin, Gabrielle, Humberto, and Imelda, and tropical storms Andrea, Barry, Chantal, Dexter, Fernand, Jerry, Karen, Lorenzo, and Melissa. Of these, Chantal was the only one to make landfall in the United States, causing two deaths in North Carolina in July.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has forecasted an “above-normal” hurricane season, with between 13 and 18 tropical storms, of which five to nine could become hurricanes.
