Tropical Storm Melissa stationary in the Caribbean as forecasters warn
it will quickly intensify
[October 24, 2025]
By DÁNICA COTO
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Tropical Storm Melissa was stationary in
the central Caribbean early Friday, with forecasters warning it could
soon strengthen and brush past Jamaica as a powerful hurricane while
unleashing potentially “catastrophic” flash flooding and landslides in
southern Haiti.
The erratic storm was expected to drop copious rain on Jamaica and the
southern regions of Haiti and the Dominican Republic through the
weekend.
“The rainfall is a huge risk with the storm,” said Michael Brennan,
director of the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami. “Rainfall has
historically been the biggest cause of loss of life of tropical storms
and hurricanes in the Caribbean.”
Early Friday, the storm was stationary about 165 miles (260 kilometers)
southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, and about 275 miles (445 kilometers)
southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. It had maximum sustained winds of 45
mph (75 kph), the U.S. center said. It was expected to begin to drift
northeast or north later in the day before turning west over the
weekend.
A hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning were in effect for
Jamaica and the southwestern peninsula of Haiti.
Melissa was expected to slowly begin moving closer to Jamaica over the
weekend. It was expected to strengthen into a hurricane by Saturday and
become a major hurricane by the end of the weekend, possibly reaching
Category 4 status by Tuesday.
Forecasters said Jamaica’s eastern region could get up to 14 inches (36
centimeters) of rain that could lead to flooding and landslides because
the ground is already saturated from recent heavy rains unrelated to the
storm.
Schools, health centers and government offices closed across Jamaica on
Thursday, with authorities warning that all airports would close within
24 hours if a hurricane warning is issued.
“The situation is indeed serious,” said Matthew Samuda, Jamaica’s
minister of economic growth and job creation, as he warned people not to
be fooled by the storm’s current pace and strength. “Be very attentive,
because it can change in a moment’s notice.”
Up to 14 inches (36 centimeters) of rain also was forecast for southern
Haiti and the southern Dominican Republic, with higher amounts possible
through Sunday.
[to top of second column]
|
A woman holds a girl with an umbrella's hand during light rain in
Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Odelyn
Joseph)
Melissa was blamed for one death in southern Haiti, and five other
people in the country’s central region were injured in flooding,
authorities said. The U.N. announced Thursday that it was preparing
more than 100 emergency shelters in Haiti's southern region.
The storm also knocked out dozens of water supply systems in the
neighboring Dominican Republic, affecting more than half a million
customers. It also downed trees and traffic lights and unleashed a
couple of small landslides.
All public schools across the Dominican Republic would close Friday,
while government offices in 12 provinces under alert would do the
same, officials said.
“This is an event that we should be following minute by minute,”
said Juan Manuel Méndez García, emergency operations director in the
Dominican Republic. He noted that evacuations in areas under alert
were mandatory.
Melissa is the 13th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season,
and the first named storm to form in the Caribbean this year.
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had
predicted an above-normal season with 13 to 18 named storms. Of
those, five to nine were forecast to become hurricanes, including
two to five major hurricanes, which pack winds of 111 mph (178 kph)
or greater.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30.
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved
 |
