The National Hurricane Center officially named Tropical Storm Melissa on Tuesday morning. The storm is currently moving west at around 14 mph, but is expected to slow down and linger between Jamaica and Haiti from Wednesday through at least Saturday.
This slow movement raises concerns for the region, as continuous rainfall is expected to cause flooding, landslides, and mudslides in areas such as Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica. Early forecasts show these areas could receive 8 to 12 inches of rain, with some southern coastal regions possibly exceeding 14 inches by the weekend.
Melissa currently has maximum sustained winds of 50 mph, and forecasters predict it could strengthen into a hurricane by the end of the week or early in the weekend.
While the storm’s main impacts will be concentrated around the northern Caribbean, Aruba could also experience rainfall from the outer bands of Melissa. Between Tuesday and Friday, some areas of the island may receive 1 to 3 inches of rain, though no severe weather is expected.
Residents across the Caribbean are advised to monitor the storm’s progress closely, as watches and warnings remain in effect for Jamaica and parts of Haiti.
Fortunately, Melissa poses no threat to Florida, as weather fronts in the United States are expected to steer the storm away from the mainland.
Photo Credits : https://www.wmnf.org/tropical-storm-melissa-forms-caribbean-wont-impact-florida/
