Rapid Intensification of Hurricane Melissa in Caribbean

As Melissa strengthens, the Caribbean braces for impact.

There is a significant expected increase in Hurricane Melissa's strength, likely reaching major hurricane status by Sunday. The National Hurricane Center in Miami highlights the potential dangers, predicting severe flash floods and landslides, especially affecting Jamaica and the southern regions of Hispaniola, encompassing Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Currently a category two storm, Melissa is moving slowly at around three miles per hour, with maximum sustained winds measuring up to 100 miles per hour as of Saturday evening. This sluggish pace raises the potential for prolonged heavy rains over parts of the Caribbean, extending the hurricane’s hazardous effects for several days.

Haiti faces a hurricane watch stretching from its border with the Dominican Republic to Port au-Prince. By late Saturday, the storm had positioned itself approximately 250 miles southwest of the Haitian capital, with its path bringing it close to Kingston, Jamaica where a hurricane warning is currently in place.

At a Jamaican press briefing on Saturday, officials stressed the urgency for residents to ready themselves for the impending storm. Evan Thompson, leading Jamaica's Meteorological Service, cautioned that Melissa might surpass previous major hurricanes, like those experienced in 2005.

"Melissa will remain nearly stationary, unleashing relentless rain which could lead to significant challenges," Thompson noted. "This is likely to result in widespread and catastrophic flooding, threatening lives, should the forecast hold true."

The National Hurricane Center anticipates Melissa reaching Jamaican soil by early next week, predicting rainfalls between 15-30 inches for Jamaica and the southern parts of Hispaniola continuing into midweek. In some areas, rainfall could escalate to 40 inches.

The Jamaica Information Service (JIS) has reported preparations involving the National Water Commission. In scenarios where water supplies are compromised, priority water distribution by trucks will focus on critical areas like hospitals, children’s homes, and correctional institutions. The JIS also cautioned residents about the possibility of crocodiles displaced by the flooding.

Reports have confirmed at least one fatality in the Dominican Republic due to severe rainfall, while in Haiti, three fatalities resulted from landslides and tree falls.

The National Hurricane Center highlights a dire outlook for southwestern Haiti, predicting the possibility of catastrophic flash flooding and landslides.

Forecasters emphasize the need for vigilance in eastern Cuba, the Southeast Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands as Hurricane Melissa's path unfolds. The U.S. Navy has instructed non-essential personnel and families to evacuate their base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba as of Saturday, with eastern Cuba facing potential hurricane conditions between Tuesday and Wednesday. Expected rainfall could exceed one foot.