Tropical Storm Melissa is threatening the central Caribbean with rains that could cause flooding in Jamaica, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic, as it moves toward becoming a major hurricane in the coming days. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned that the storm could reach Category 3 status by Monday, October 27, posing a high risk to millions of people in the region.

The system, formed on Tuesday, October 21, and remains strong, although the NHC forecasts a significant increase in strength. According to the latest updates, Melissa is packing sustained winds of 80 kilometers per hour and is located approximately 515 kilometers south-southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and approximately 523 kilometers southeast of Kingston, Jamaica. The projected track anticipates the storm approaching Jamaica and southwestern Haiti by the end of the week.

Jamaican authorities have launched a preparedness operation and have recommended that the population take precautions in anticipation of the cyclone’s arrival. In a statement, Jamaica’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) urged “fishermen on the cays and banks to evacuate immediately and begin returning to the mainland,”. In addition, “other small boat operators in coastal waters should return to port, and those already in port should not leave,” the agency stated.

In the Dominican Republic, tropical Storm Melissa will continue to generate humid and unstable conditions over the country, with cloudy conditions and moderate to heavy downpours, accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds, throughout the day and the coming days. The government has ordered the suspension of work activities in major cities, such as Santo Domingo, from Wednesday afternoon through Thursday. In Haiti, a hurricane watch has been issued for regions including the capital, strengthening alert mechanisms for possible extreme events.

Source: Diario Libre