Hurricane Melissa reaches hurricane strength, threatens catastrophic flooding in northern Caribbean – National
US forecasters issued a Hurricane Warning for Jamaica on Saturday as Hurricane Melissa reached paper strength, threatening widespread flooding in the northern Caribbean.
A hurricane warning means winds of at least 74 mph (119 kph) are expected in the area within 36 hours.
“Melissa has become a hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph,” the US National Hurricane Center said Saturday afternoon. “Rapid strengthening is expected, and Melissa is forecast to become a major storm tomorrow.”
The slow-moving storm was expected to dump heavy rain, up to 25 inches (64 centimeters), on Jamaica, according to the US National Hurricane Center.
A similar forecast was issued for the southern regions of Haiti and the Dominican Republic until Monday. Life-threatening floods and landslides are possible, up to 35 centimeters (89 inches) of catastrophic rain across the Hloron peninsula in Southwest Southwestern Haiti, the agency said.
The low-level and slow-moving storm killed at least three people in Haiti and a fourth in the Dominican Republic, where another person remains missing.
“Unfortunately in the areas that are in the path shown by this storm, it’s getting worse,” Jamie Rhome, Deputy Director of Communications, said before Saturday. He said the storm will continue to move slowly for up to four days.
Melissa was located 230 km) southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, and 380 km) southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. It had maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph) and was moving slowly west-west at 1 mph (2 kph), according to the hurricane center.
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A hurricane warning was in effect for Jamaica and a hurricane watch remained in place southwest of Haiti.
Melissa’s center is expected to be near or over Jamaica early next week, forecasters said. Melissa is expected to become a major hurricane on Sunday and is likely to reach Category 4 status by early Monday, US forecasters said. It is forecast to hit Eastern Cuba early Wednesday, when up to 12 inches (30 centimeters) could fall in some areas.
Authorities in Jamaica have warned that all airports will close within 24 hours of a hurricane warning being issued. More than 650 shelters were set up. Authorities said warehouses on the island were well stocked and thousands of food packages were planned for immediate distribution if needed.
“I urge Jamaicans to take this climate change seriously,” said Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness. “Take every step to protect yourself.”
The Hurricane Center confirmed the threat in a keynote late Saturday afternoon.
“Jamaica Prep should be completed today. Melissa’s Slow Movitor brings multi-day heavy winds and heavy rain, land damage area, land damage, damage,” the agency said.
Haitian authorities said three people died as a result of the storm and five others were injured due to a collapsed wall. There were reports of rising River levels, flooding and a bridge being destroyed due to breaching in Sainte-Suzanne, in the northeast.
“The storm is causing a lot of concern in the way it’s moving,” said Ronald Délice, director of the Department of Tourism Protection, as local officials lined up to distribute food kits. Many residents are still reluctant to leave their homes.
The storm damaged nearly 200 homes in the Dominican Republic and knocked out water supply systems, affecting more than half a million customers. It also reduced trees and street lights, revealing the small colors of small countries and leaving communities more than two minutes separated by floods.
The Bahamas Department of Meteorology said Melissa could bring a tropical storm or tropical storm to the southeastern islands and central Bahamas to the Turks and Caicos Islands early next week.
Melissa is the 13th named hurricane of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30.
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had predicted an above-normal period with 13 to 18 named storms.
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