The slow-moving storm has killed at least three people in Haiti and a fourth person in the Dominican Republic, where another person remains missing.
KINGSTON, Jamaica — U.S. forecasters issued a hurricane warning for Jamaica as Tropical Storm Melissa threatened catastrophic flooding in the northern Caribbean.The slow-moving storm was expected to drop torrential rain on Jamaica and the southern regions of Haiti and the Dominican Republic through Monday.
Life-threatening flooding and landslides were possible, with up to 35 inches of catastrophic rain anticipated in southwestern Haiti.KINGSTON, Jamaica — Tropical Storm Melissa neared hurricane strength Saturday and was expected to rapidly intensify this weekend, as forecasters warned of massive rainfall and life-threatening flooding and landslides in the northern Caribbean.The erratic and slow-moving storm has killed at least three people in Haiti and a fourth person in the Dominican Republic, where another person remains missing. Up to 25 inches of rain was forecast for Jamaica and the southern regions of Haiti and the Dominican Republic through Monday, with up to 35 inches of rain possible across Haiti’s Tiburon Peninsula, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. “Unfortunately for places along the projected path of this storm, it is increasingly dire,” said Jamie Rhome, the center’s deputy director. “We think it will become a hurricane later today.” He said it will continue to move slowly for up to four days. Melissa was located about 155 miles southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, and about 235 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. It had maximum sustained winds of 70 mph and was slowly moving west-northwest at 1 mph , according to the hurricane center. “Rapid intensification is forecast to begin over the next 24 hours. Melissa is forecast to become a hurricane shortly and a major hurricane by Sunday,” the center added on Saturday. A hurricane warning was in effect for Jamaica and a hurricane watch remained in place for the southwestern peninsula of Haiti. The center of Melissa is expected to move near or over Jamaica early next week, forecasters said. Melissa was expected to become a major hurricane by Sunday and possibly reach Category 4 status by early Monday, U.S. forecasters said. It is forecast to hit eastern Cuba early Wednesday, where up to 12 inches could fall in some areas. Authorities in Jamaica warned that all airports would close within 24 hours if a hurricane warning were issued. More than 650 shelters were activated. Officials said warehouses across the island were well-stocked and thousands of food packages prepositioned for quick distribution if needed. “I urge Jamaicans to take this weather threat seriously,” said Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness. “Take all measures to protect yourself.”“Jamaica prep should be completed today. Melissa’s slow motion brings multi-day damaging winds plus heavy rainfall, catastrophic flash flooding, landslides, damage, long-duration power communication outages, isolation,” the center said. Haitian authorities said three people had died as a consequence of the hurricane and another five were injured due to a collapsed wall. There were also reports of rising river levels, flooding and a bridge destroyed due to breached riverbanks in Sainte-Suzanne, in the northeast. “The storm is causing a lot of concern with the way it’s moving,” said Ronald Délice, a Haitian department director of civil protection, as local authorities organized lines to distribute food kits. Many residents are still reluctant to leave their homes. and knocked out water supply systems, affecting more than half a million customers. It also downed trees and traffic lights, unleashed a couple of small landslides and left more than two dozen communities isolated by floodwaters. The Bahamas Department of Meteorology said Melissa could bring tropical storm or hurricane conditions to islands in the Southeast and Central Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands by early next week.The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had predicted an above-normal season with 13 to 18 named storms.UPDATE: Alaska Airlines resumes flights after IT outage grounded entire fleet ‘This is what we got to deal with!’: Keeping downtown Anchorage safe a challenge with hundreds of flood victims sheltering in city centerFamily of man, 81, attacked by dogs continues to ask for prayers as he remains in critical condition
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