Tropical Storm Melissa moved slowly across the Caribbean Sea on Thursday, posing a significant threat of landslides and severe flooding to Jamaica and southern Hispaniola, which is shared by the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Tragically, the storm caused the death of an elderly man in Marigot, Haiti, when a large tree fell on him. Additionally, five individuals sustained injuries due to flooding in the Artibonite region.
Authorities advised residents living in flood-prone areas to relocate to higher ground as a precautionary measure. The storm was situated approximately 345 kilometers southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, and 440 kilometers southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. With sustained winds reaching 80 km/h, Melissa was moving northwest at a speed of 7 km/h, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.
A hurricane watch was issued for Jamaica and the southwestern part of Haiti, extending from the border with the Dominican Republic to Port-au-Prince, while a tropical storm warning was in place for Jamaica. The National Hurricane Center highlighted the erratic and slow movement of the storm, raising concerns about its potential impact.
Forecasters anticipated that Melissa would stay over open waters but gradually approach Jamaica and southwestern Haiti later in the week. There were concerns about its likely intensification by late Friday and over the weekend. AccuWeather’s lead hurricane expert, Alex DaSilva, expressed worries about the warm waters and slow pace of the storm, warning of the possibility of rapid strengthening into a Category 5 hurricane.
Residents, like Barbara Campbell in Kingston, Jamaica, took precautions by securing their homes and stocking up on essential supplies. In Jamaica, preparations included the availability of 881 shelters as needed, closure of courts, and the transition of schools to remote classes. Furthermore, preventative measures such as the placement of 1,000 sandbags in Kingston’s eastern area were undertaken to mitigate potential flooding risks.
Evan Thompson, director of Jamaica’s Met Service, emphasized the significant rainfall expected in the eastern region, urging vigilance among residents. In the Dominican Republic, numerous individuals sought refuge in shelters, and various services and establishments were closed in nine provinces under alert.
Concerns were particularly high for Haiti, given its vulnerability to natural disasters and limited resources for storm preparedness. 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, focusing on evacuation support, emergency shelter management, and other critical needs.
Tropical Storm Melissa marked the 13th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season and the first to originate in the Caribbean this year. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had predicted an above-average season, anticipating 13 to 18 named storms, with a subset becoming hurricanes, including major ones with winds exceeding 178 km/h.
The Atlantic hurricane season, which spans from June 1 to November 30, continues to pose risks and challenges for vulnerable regions.
