By Martha McHardy
US News Reporter
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Tropical Storm Melissa is poised to unleash life-threatening conditions across parts of the Caribbean, with forecasters warning of “catastrophic” flash flooding, landslides, and damaging winds.
The storm’s slow movement is expected to prolong dangerous weather over multiple days, bringing widespread rainfall and potential devastation to several islands.
Why It Matters
Melissa threatens to become one of the most destructive weather events to hit the Caribbean in recent years, striking areas still vulnerable from past storms.
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What To Know
In Jamaica, heavy rainfall and strong winds are forecast to begin tonight, with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) warning of likely “catastrophic flash flooding and numerous landslides.” The agency said there is also an increasing risk of a life-threatening storm surge early next week, urging residents to complete all preparations immediately.
Across southwestern Haiti, conditions are expected to rapidly deteriorate, with the NHC warning of “extensive infrastructural damage” and possible “prolonged isolation of communities.” Flash flooding and landslides could also persist into early next week, particularly along the Tiburon Peninsula, where strong winds may last more than a day.
Flash flooding and landslides are also a concern for the Dominican Republic, especially in the southern regions while eastern Cuba, the Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos are being told to monitor the storm closely. The NHC says the risk of a “significant storm surge, damaging winds, and heavy rainfall” will increase by midweek as Melissa tracks northward.
AccuWeather wrote in a post on X on Friday afternoon: "Tropical Storm Melissa is forecast to rapidly strengthen to a major hurricane over the Caribbean and could end up being one of the strongest of the season with lives and property in peril from Jamaica to Cuba and Haiti."
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What People Are Saying
The National Hurricane Center wrote on X on Friday: "Melissa Nearly Stationary. Life-Threatening and Catastrophic Flash Flooding and Landslides Expected in Portions of Southern Hispaniola and Jamaica Through The Weekend."
Meteorologist Dylan Federico wrote on X on Thursday: "I’m gravely concerned for Jamaica. Melissa has the potential to be the worst hurricane to strike Jamaica since Gilbert in 1988. We are talking about a slow-moving major hurricane passing near if not directly over the island this weekend into early next week—potentially as a Category 4 or 5. Everyone in Jamaica should be preparing for a major hurricane strike with a long duration of hurricane conditions lasting 2-3+ days Saturday/Sunday into Monday/Tuesday next week."
Meteorologist Noah Bergren wrote on X on Thursday: "Melissa is going to be a devastating storm in the Caribbean. How bad where remains tied to the track. A loop around/west of Jamaica could yield one of the strongest Caribbean hurricanes on record (high end Category 5 possible) -- a track between Jamaica and Haiti still a powerful hurricane, but much less so."
What Happens Next?
Regular forecast updates are published by the NHC on its website and social media channels.
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