Tropical Storm Melissa has killed at least four people across Haiti and the Dominican Republic while advancing toward Jamaica, where forecasters predict the system could strengthen into a Category 4 or potentially Category 5 hurricane before making landfall on late Monday or early Tuesday. The storm carried sustained winds of 70 mph on Saturday morning while moving westward at an exceptionally slow pace, producing deadly flooding and landslides throughout the region. Meteorologists project the hurricane could strike near Clarendon parish before crossing inland through St Catherine and exiting near St Mary.
Jamaica faces rainfall totals of up to 25 inches through Tuesday, with Haiti's Tiburon Peninsula potentially receiving 35 inches, which could trigger catastrophic flooding and isolate communities. Health facilities across Jamaica have suspended elective surgeries to build emergency capacity, while transportation officials plan to close airports within 24 hours of the activation of a hurricane warning. More than 1,000 people have been displaced in the Dominican Republic, where damaged infrastructure has cut off multiple communities from essential services.
The storm represents the 13th named system of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season and could become the most powerful hurricane to strike Jamaica if it reaches Category 5 status. Eastern Cuba, the southern Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands will experience worsening conditions early next week as Melissa continues its projected path through the Caribbean.
Jamaica faces rainfall totals of up to 25 inches through Tuesday, with Haiti's Tiburon Peninsula potentially receiving 35 inches, which could trigger catastrophic flooding and isolate communities. Health facilities across Jamaica have suspended elective surgeries to build emergency capacity, while transportation officials plan to close airports within 24 hours of the activation of a hurricane warning. More than 1,000 people have been displaced in the Dominican Republic, where damaged infrastructure has cut off multiple communities from essential services.
The storm represents the 13th named system of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season and could become the most powerful hurricane to strike Jamaica if it reaches Category 5 status. Eastern Cuba, the southern Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands will experience worsening conditions early next week as Melissa continues its projected path through the Caribbean.
