Tropical Storm Melissa Could Become A Hurricane By Weekend; NHC Warns Of Life-Threatening Floods

Tropical Storm Melissa continues its slow westward crawl across the warm waters of the southern Caribbean and is expected to intensify into a hurricane by late week, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in its latest advisory. With wind shear decreasing, forecasters say Melissa could reach Category 2 or even Category 3 strength if ideal atmospheric conditions persist.The storm is currently moving west at 15 mph, but models suggest it will slow considerably and linger just south of Jamaica and Haiti through the weekend. This stalling motion, meteorologists warn, will allow moisture-laden bands to repeatedly hit the same regions, producing life-threatening flooding and mudslides—particularly across mountainous areas of Hispaniola and southern Haiti.Haiti and Jamaica Brace for Torrential Rains and MudslidesEarly forecasts indicate rainfall totals of 8 to 12 inches, with locally higher amounts possibly exceeding 14 inches in southern Haiti and the Dominican Republic, including Port-au-Prince and Santo Domingo. The NHC cautioned that flash floods and landslides are likely, given the island’s steep terrain and limited drainage infrastructure.High surf and dangerous rip currents are also expected to batter Jamaica’s southern coast by Thursday, while wave heights in excess of 10 feet could impact nearshore communities. “This is a very worrisome scenario,” meteorologist Dr. Evelyn Clarke told Weather Channel Caribbean, adding that the storm’s slow movement “will exacerbate the flooding potential.”No Threat to the US, but a Long-Lasting Caribbean ImpactMelissa’s eventual path depends on how fast steering currents develop from approaching US trough systems, which could push the storm out to sea as early as Friday. If it misses that window, the system could linger into next week. Despite the uncertainty, experts confirm there is no current threat to the US mainland, as wind shear north of the Caribbean will likely weaken Melissa once it begins to move away.If the US indeed avoids a hurricane landfall this season, it will mark the first such occurrence since 2015. For now, Caribbean nations are urged to remain on high alert as the storm’s heavy rains continue through the weekend.