U.S. forecasters issued a hurricane warning for Jamaica on Saturday as Storm Melissa reached hurricane strength, threatening catastrophic 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.
“Melissahas will become a hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph,” the U.S. National Hurricane Center said Saturday afternoon. “Rapid intensification is expected and Melissais is forecast to become a major hurricane tomorrow.”
The slow-moving storm is expected to dump torrential rain, up to 25 inches (64 centimeters), on Jamaica, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.
A similar forecast was issued through Monday for the southern regions of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Life-threatening flooding and landslides were possible, with up to 35 inches (89 centimeters) of catastrophic rain across the Tiburon Peninsula in southwestern Haiti, the center said.
The erratic, slow-moving storm has killed at least three people in Haiti and a fourth in the Dominican Republic, where another person remains missing.
“Unfortunately for places along the projected path of this storm, it’s getting more dire,” Jamie Rhome, the center’s deputy director, said earlier Saturday. He said the storm will continue to move slowly for up to four days.
Melissa was located about 145 miles (230 kilometers) southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, and about 235 miles (380 kilometers) southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. It had maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph) and was moving slowly west-northwest at 1 mph (2 kph), according to the hurricane center.
Get daily national news
Get the day’s top news, political, economic and current affairs headlines delivered to your inbox once a day.
A hurricane warning was in effect for Jamaica and a hurricane watch remained in effect 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 on Sunday and possibly reach Category 4 status early Monday, U.S. forecasters said. It was forecast to reach eastern Cuba early Wednesday, where up to 30 centimeters (12 inches) could fall in some areas.
Jamaican authorities warned that all airports would close within 24 hours of a hurricane warning being issued. More than 650 shelters were activated. Officials said warehouses across the island were well stocked and thousands of food packages were prepared for rapid distribution if necessary.
“I urge Jamaicans to take this climate threat seriously,” said Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness. “Take all measures to protect yourself.”
The hurricane center confirmed the risks in a key message Saturday afternoon.
“Jamaica’s preparation should be completed today. Melissa’s slow movement brings damaging winds lasting several days, in addition to heavy rain, catastrophic flash flooding, landslides, damage, long-lasting power communication outages and isolation,” the center said.
Haitian authorities said three people had died as a result of the hurricane and five others were injured due to the collapse of a wall. There were also reports of rising river levels, flooding and the destruction of a bridge due to river banks breaking in Sainte-Suzanne in the northeast.
“The storm is causing a lot of concern because of the way it is moving,” said Ronald Délice, director of Haiti’s civil protection department, as local authorities organized lines to distribute food kits. Many residents are still reluctant to leave their homes.
The storm has damaged nearly 200 homes in the Dominican Republic and knocked out water supply systems, affecting more than half a million customers. It also downed trees and traffic lights, triggered a pair of small landslides and left more than two dozen communities isolated by flooding.
The Bahamas Department of Meteorology said Melissa could bring tropical storm or hurricane conditions to the southeastern and central islands of the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands early next week.
Melissa is the 13th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30.
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had forecast an above-normal season with between 13 and 18 named storms.
© 2025 The Canadian Press