Tropical Storm Melissa threatens Caribbean, kills one in Haiti

Forecasters have warned that Tropical Storm Melissa is moving through the central Caribbean and that it will soon strengthen and pass over Jamaica as a powerful hurricane before causing potentially “catastrophic” flash flooding and landslides in southern Haiti.

The slow-moving and erratic storm centered on Friday about 150 miles (245 kilometers) southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, and about 270 miles (430 kilometers) southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

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According to the United States National Hurricane Center in Miami, it was moving north at 3 mph (6 km/h) and had sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h).

As it strengthens into a major hurricane by the weekend and possibly reaches Category 4 status by Tuesday, it was anticipated to drop significant rain on Jamaica and Haiti’s southern regions through the weekend.

The ground is already saturated as a result of recent heavy rains unrelated to the storm, according to forecasters in Jamaica’s eastern region, which could result in flooding and landslides.

According to the Civil Protection Agency, Melissa was credited with killing an elderly man in Marigot, southern Haiti, while five other people were hurt in the central Artibonite area by flooding.

In Haiti’s southern region, the UN announced on Thursday that it was putting together more than 100 emergency shelters. Previous storms have caused widespread erosion and little preparation in Haiti due to gang violence, poverty, and weak governance, which have devastated the country.

More than half a million customers were affected by the storm, which also affected dozens of Dominican Republic water supply systems. Additionally, it caused a number of small landslides, including one downing of trees and traffic lights.

Officials in 12 provinces on alert, according to officials, will close all public schools in the Dominican Republic on Friday, and government offices in 12 other provinces will follow.

The minister of economic growth and job creation, Matthew Samuda, in Jamaica, called the situation “serious” and cautioned people against being fooled by the storm’s current intensity and speed. He advised people to be very watchful because it could change without warning.

Melissa is the first named storm to form in the Caribbean this year and the 13th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season.

13 to 18 named storms were predicted by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which runs from June 1 through November 30.