Hurricane Melissa rapidly strengthened into a potentially catastrophic storm in the Caribbean overnight, according to U.S. forecasters’ early Sunday warning. The U.S. National Hurricane Centre indicated that Melissa had maximum sustained winds of 220 km/h, classifying it as a Category 4 storm on the Saffir-Simpson wind scale.
Forecasters based in Miami stated that Melissa is projected to further intensify during the day and is anticipated to reach Jamaica by Monday night or Tuesday morning. As of Saturday night, Melissa was moving west at a speed of seven km/h, situated about 195 kilometres southeast of Kingston, Jamaica.
Jamaica is under a hurricane warning, while hurricane watches have been issued for parts of Haiti’s southwestern peninsula and southeastern Cuba. The storm could bring up to 1,000 millimetres of rainfall to Jamaica by Wednesday, as reported by the agency’s 5 a.m. ET update on Sunday.
Similar forecasts were made for southern regions of Haiti and the Dominican Republic through Sunday, with potential life-threatening flooding and landslides, particularly in southwestern Haiti where up to 700 millimetres of rain were expected. Eastern Cuba could also be impacted by Wednesday, with some areas possibly experiencing up to 30 centimetres of rainfall.
The slow-moving storm, which has already claimed the lives of at least three individuals in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic, with another person still missing, has prompted serious concerns among officials. The U.S. National Hurricane Centre’s deputy director, Jamie Rhome, emphasized the prolonged threat posed by the storm’s slow progression over the next few days.
Authorities in Jamaica have taken precautionary measures, warning of airport closures within 24 hours of a hurricane warning being issued. Over 650 shelters have been opened, and stockpiles of food supplies are ready for immediate distribution if required. Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness urged citizens to prioritize safety measures in the face of the impending weather threat.
Haitian authorities reported three storm-related fatalities and five injuries due to structural collapses. Rising river levels, flooding, and infrastructure damages were also reported in Sainte-Suzanne, northeast Haiti. Concerns were raised by Ronald Delice, a Haitian civil protection official, regarding the storm’s movement and its impact on residents who are hesitant to evacuate.
In the Dominican Republic, nearly 200 homes were damaged, water supply systems were disrupted, affecting over half a million customers. The storm caused tree falls, traffic light failures, and isolated numerous communities due to flooding and landslides.
The Bahamas Department of Meteorology highlighted potential tropical storm or hurricane conditions for islands in the Southeast and Central Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands by early next week.
Melissa marks the 13th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which spans from June 1 to November 30. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had previously forecasted an above-average season with 13 to 18 named storms.
