KINGSTON, Jamaica– Tropical Storm Melissa was expected to become a hurricane on Saturday as forecasters warned of massive rainfall and life-threatening flooding and landslides in the northern Caribbean, and a staggering 35 inches (89 centimeters) of rain was forecast in southwestern Haiti.
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.
Up to 25 inches (64 centimeters) of rain was forecast for Jamaica and the southern regions of Haiti and the Dominican Republic through Monday, with up to 35 inches (89 centimeters) of rain possible across Haiti’s entire Tiburon Peninsula, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.
“If those rains were to occur, we would be talking about the potential for catastrophic flooding,” said Jamie Rhome, deputy director of the center.
Melissa was located about 180 miles (290 kilometers) southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, and about 245 miles (390 kilometers) southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. It had maximum sustained winds of 100 kph (65 mph) and was moving northwest at 6 kph (3 mph), according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.
A hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning were in effect for Jamaica and 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, US forecasters said.
The storm is then forecast to hit eastern Cuba early Wednesday, where up to 30 centimeters (12 inches) could fall in some areas.
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.
Jamaican authorities warned that all airports would close within 24 hours if a hurricane warning is 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 storm has damaged nearly 200 homes in the Dominican Republic and has left water supply systems out of service, 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.
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.