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 large 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 a minimum of three folks 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 via Monday, with as much as 35 inches (89 centimeters) of rain attainable throughout Haiti’s Tiburon Peninsula, based on the U.S. Nationwide Hurricane Heart.
“If these rains had been to happen, you are speaking about catastrophic flooding potential,” mentioned Jamie Rhome, the middle’s deputy director.
Melissa was situated about 160 miles (260 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 transferring west-northwest at 1 mph (3 kph), based on the U.S. Nationwide Hurricane Heart.
“Speedy intensification is forecast to start over the following 24 hours. Melissa is forecast to develop into a hurricane shortly and a significant hurricane by Sunday,” the middle added on Saturday.
Haitian authorities knowledgeable three folks had died within the nation as a consequence of the hurricane and one other 5 had been injured resulting from a collapsed wall. There have been additionally experiences of rising river ranges, flooding and a bridge destroyed resulting from breached riverbanks in Sainte-Suzanne (North-East) resulting from breached riverbanks.
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 predicted to maneuver close to or over Jamaica early subsequent week, forecasters mentioned.
Melissa was anticipated to develop into a significant hurricane by Sunday and probably attain Class 4 standing by early Monday, U.S. forecasters mentioned.
The storm is then forecast to hit jap Cuba early Wednesday, the place as much as 12 inches (30 centimeters) may fall in some areas.
The Bahamas Division of Meteorology mentioned Melissa may convey tropical storm or hurricane situations to islands within the Southeast and Central Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands by early subsequent week.
Authorities in Jamaica warned that each one airports would shut inside 24 hours if a hurricane warning is issued. Greater than 650 shelters had been activated.
Officers mentioned 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,” mentioned Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness. “Take all measures to guard your self.”
The storm has broken practically 200 properties within the Dominican Republic and knocked out water provide programs, affecting greater than half 1,000,000 prospects. It additionally downed bushes and site visitors lights, unleashed a few small landslides and left greater than two dozen communities remoted by floodwaters.
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.