For several days now, Tropical Storm Melissa has been unleashing heavy rains over areas such as Haiti and the Dominican Republic, while meteorologists warn of a significant risk of flash floods and landslides across the northern Caribbean.
With maximum sustained winds of up to 80 kilometers per hour and a slow-moving trajectory south and southwest of Port-au-Prince, the system has placed Jamaica on alert in case conditions worsen. Rainfall totals of 12 to 25 centimeters are expected through Friday in Haiti and southern Dominican Republic.
Local authorities have begun implementing emergency measures such as school closures, monitoring river and stream levels, and carrying out preventive evacuations. Uncertainty remains high regarding where exactly the storm will make landfall, or whether it will continue to strengthen.
Could Melissa become one of the most dangerous storms of the Caribbean season?
The truth is yes, while it’s still unclear if it will reach a higher category, its development conditions and the already vulnerable terrain of the Caribbean make it a real threat to millions of people across the region.
