Folks stroll alongside a road amid rain attributable to Tropical Storm Melissa, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on Oct. 23, 2025.
Eddy Vittini | Reuters
Tropical Storm Melissa neared hurricane power Saturday and was anticipated to quickly intensify this weekend, as forecasters warned of huge rainfall and life-threatening flooding and landslides within the northern Caribbean.
An astounding 35 inches (89 centimeters) of rain was anticipated in southwest Haiti.
The erratic and slow-moving storm has killed not less than three individuals in Haiti and a fourth individual within the Dominican Republic, the place one other individual stays lacking.
As much as 25 inches (64 centimeters) of rain was forecast for Jamaica and the southern areas of Haiti and the Dominican Republic by Monday, with as much as 35 inches (89 centimeters) of rain potential throughout Haiti’s Tiburon Peninsula, in response to the U.S. Nationwide Hurricane Middle.
“Sadly for locations alongside the projected path of this storm, (the information) it’s more and more dire,” stated Jamie Rhome, the middle’s deputy director. “We predict it’ll change into a hurricane later at present.” He stated it’ll proceed to maneuver slowly for as much as 4 days.
Melissa was situated about 155 miles (245 kilometers) southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, and about 235 miles (375 kilometers) southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. It had most sustained winds of 70 mph (110 kph) and was slowly shifting west-northwest at 1 mph (2 kph), in response to the hurricane heart.
“Speedy intensification is forecast to start over the following 24 hours. Melissa is forecast to change into a hurricane shortly and a serious hurricane by Sunday,” the middle added on Saturday.
A hurricane warning was in impact for Jamaica and a hurricane watch remained in place for the southwestern peninsula of Haiti.
The middle of Melissa is anticipated to maneuver close to or over Jamaica early subsequent week, forecasters stated. Melissa was anticipated to change into a serious hurricane by Sunday and presumably attain Class 4 standing by early Monday, U.S. forecasters stated. It’s forecast to hit jap Cuba early Wednesday, the place as much as 12 inches (30 centimeters) might fall in some areas.
Authorities in Jamaica warned that every one airports would shut inside 24 hours if a hurricane warning is issued. Greater than 650 shelters had been activated. Officers stated warehouses throughout the island had been well-stocked and 1000’s of meals packages prepositioned for fast distribution if wanted.
“I urge Jamaicans to take this climate menace significantly,” stated Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness. “Take all measures to guard your self.”
The hurricane heart confirmed the dangers in a key message Saturday afternoon.
“Jamaica prep must be accomplished at present. Melissa’s sluggish movement brings multi-day damaging winds plus heavy rainfall, catastrophic flash flooding, landslides, injury, long-duration energy communication outages, isolation,” the middle stated.
Haitian authorities stated three individuals had died as a consequence of the hurricane and one other 5 had been injured as a result of a collapsed wall. There have been additionally studies of rising river ranges, flooding and a bridge destroyed as a result of breached riverbanks in Sainte-Suzanne, within the northeast.
“The storm is inflicting numerous concern with the best way it is shifting,” stated Ronald Délice, a Haitian division director of civil safety, as native authorities organized traces to distribute meals kits. Many residents are nonetheless reluctant to go away their properties.
The storm has broken almost 200 properties within the Dominican Republic and knocked out water provide methods, affecting greater than half 1,000,000 clients. It additionally downed timber and site visitors lights, unleashed a few small landslides and left greater than two dozen communities remoted by floodwaters.
The Bahamas Division of Meteorology stated Melissa might convey tropical storm or hurricane circumstances to islands within the Southeast and Central Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands by early subsequent week.
Melissa is the thirteenth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30.
The U.S. Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had predicted an above-normal season with 13 to 18 named storms.
