On Saturday, October 25th, American meteorologists issued a hurricane warning for Jamaica: Hurricane Melissa has intensified to hurricane strength and is expected to bring catastrophic flooding to the northern Caribbean Sea region.
The hurricane alert means that the area is expected to experience winds of at least 74 miles per hour (119 kilometers per hour) within 36 hours.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center stated on Saturday afternoon that “Melissa has developed into a hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 75 miles per hour, and its intensity is expected to rapidly increase, possibly becoming a major hurricane by tomorrow.”
According to the center’s forecast, this slow-moving storm is expected to bring heavy rainfall to Jamaica, with precipitation amounts possibly reaching up to 25 inches (64 centimeters).
Similar warnings have been issued for the southern parts of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, effective until Monday. The center warned that the Tiburon Peninsula in southwestern Haiti could experience deadly floods and landslides, with rainfall amounts potentially reaching 35 inches (89 centimeters).
This erratic and slow-moving storm has already caused at least three fatalities in Haiti and four in the Dominican Republic, with one person reported missing.
Deputy Director of the Hurricane Center, Jamie Rhome, mentioned earlier on Saturday that “conditions in areas along the projected path of the storm are becoming increasingly dire,” and the storm is expected to continue moving at an extremely slow pace for up to four days.
At the time, Hurricane Melissa was located about 145 miles (230 kilometers) southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, and about 235 miles (380 kilometers) southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Its maximum sustained winds were 75 miles per hour (120 kilometers per hour) while moving slowly at a speed of 1 mile per hour (2 kilometers per hour) in a west-northwest direction.
Jamaica has issued hurricane warnings, while the southwestern peninsula of Haiti remains under hurricane watch.
Meteorologists state that the center of Hurricane Melissa is projected to approach or pass over Jamaica early next week. American meteorologists indicate that Melissa could intensify into a major hurricane by Sunday and potentially reach Category 4 strength by early Monday. The forecast suggests that it will impact eastern Cuba by early Wednesday, with some areas possibly experiencing up to 12 inches (30 centimeters) of rainfall.
Authorities in Jamaica have issued warnings, stating that all airports will be closed within 24 hours of the hurricane alert. Over 650 shelters have been activated across the island. Officials have mentioned that food supplies are sufficient on the island, with thousands of food packages pre-positioned for rapid distribution.
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness urged citizens to “take this weather threat seriously and take all necessary precautions to ensure their safety.”
On Saturday afternoon, the Hurricane Center issued a critical alert confirming the risks posed by Hurricane Melissa.
The center emphasized that “Jamaica should complete hurricane preparedness today, as Melissa’s slow movement will bring several days of sustained destructive winds, heavy rains, catastrophic flooding, landslides, infrastructure damage, as well as prolonged power outages, communication disruptions, and transportation interruptions.”
Authorities in Haiti report that the hurricane has already claimed three lives, with five individuals injured due to collapsing walls. In the northeast Sainte-Suzanne region, reports of river surges and floods causing damage to bridges have emerged.
Ronald Délice, head of Haiti’s Civil Protection Department, stated that “the storm’s path is causing high levels of concern,” with authorities organizing food distribution operations, although many residents are reluctant to evacuate their homes.
The storm has already destroyed nearly 200 houses in the Dominican Republic, leading to water supply disruptions affecting over 500,000 users. The storm has also resulted in fallen trees, damaged traffic signs, several minor landslides, and isolation of over twenty communities due to flooding.
The Bahamas Meteorology Department stated that Melissa could bring tropical storm or hurricane conditions to the southeastern and central Bahamas Islands, as well as the Turks and Caicos Islands early next week.
Melissa is the 13th named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) had predicted an above-normal season with 13 to 18 named storms.
(Reference: Associated Press)