Tropical Storm Melissa moved slowly across the Caribbean Sea on Thursday, posing a threat of hazardous landslides and potentially life-threatening floods in Jamaica and parts of Hispaniola, which is shared by the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The storm caused a fatal incident in southern Haiti where an elderly man lost his life due to a fallen tree, while flooding in the central Artibonite area left five people injured, as reported by the Civil Protection Agency. Authorities advised residents living in flood-prone areas to relocate to higher ground.
The storm, with sustained winds of 80 km/h, was positioned approximately 345 kilometers southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, and about 440 kilometers southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. It was moving northwest at a speed of 7 km/h, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami. A hurricane watch had been issued for Jamaica and the southwest peninsula of Haiti, from the Dominican Republic border to Port-au-Prince, while a tropical storm warning was in effect for Jamaica.
Forecasters anticipated Melissa to stay over open waters but draw closer to Jamaica and southwestern Haiti later in the week. There were predictions of significant strengthening by late Friday and into the weekend. AccuWeather’s lead hurricane expert, Alex DaSilva, warned that the storm’s slow pace and warm waters could lead to rapid intensification, possibly reaching Category 5 hurricane status.
In preparation for the storm, Barbara Campbell from Kingston, Jamaica, shared her concerns and mentioned stocking up on supplies. Authorities in Jamaica had readied 881 shelters if needed, with court closures and schools transitioning to remote learning. Additionally, preventive measures such as the placement of sandbags in Kingston’s eastern area were undertaken to mitigate potential flooding.
The director of Jamaica’s Met Service, Evan Thompson, highlighted the possibility of up to 30 centimeters of rainfall in the eastern part of Jamaica, emphasizing the need to monitor the rainfall intensity. The Dominican Republic had already seen people seeking refuge in shelters, with various establishments closed in nine provinces under alert. Concerns were particularly high for Haiti due to its vulnerability to storms and limited resources for preparations.
The UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs allocated $4 million US to assist over 10,000 vulnerable individuals in Haiti ahead of the storm. These funds were earmarked for evacuation support, emergency shelter management, and provision of essential supplies to ensure the safety and well-being of the affected population.
Melissa marked the 13th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season and the first storm to originate in the Caribbean this year. The season was projected by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to be above normal, expecting between 13 to 18 named storms, with five to nine potentially becoming hurricanes, including two to five major hurricanes. The Atlantic hurricane season spans from June 1 to November 30.