Hurricane Melissa Strengthens Rapidly, Threatens Catastrophic Flooding in Jamaica and Haiti

Hurricane Melissa intensified rapidly late Saturday, posing a major threat to the northern Caribbean, with forecasters warning of catastrophic flooding and landslides in Haiti and Jamaica.

Melissa became a hurricane earlier in the day, prompting the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) to issue a hurricane warning for Jamaica. The storm could strengthen into a Category 4 hurricane and reach the island early next week.

“Life-threatening and catastrophic flash flooding and landslides are expected in portions of southern Hispaniola and Jamaica into early next week,” the NHC warned.

As of Saturday night, Melissa had maximum sustained winds of 100 mph and was located about 130 miles southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, moving west at just 3 mph. The slow-moving storm was expected to dump up to 25 inches of rain on Jamaica and as much as 35 inches on southwestern Haiti’s Tiburon Peninsula.

Cuba Issues Hurricane Watch

Cuba placed its eastern provinces — Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo, and Holguin — under a hurricane watch. Melissa is forecast to reach eastern Cuba by early Wednesday, bringing up to 12 inches of rain in some areas.

Slow Progress, Rising Toll

Melissa’s sluggish pace has already proved deadly. At least three people were killed in Haiti and another in the Dominican Republic, where one person remains missing. Rising river levels and flash floods have destroyed bridges and damaged hundreds of homes across the region.

“The situation is increasingly dire for places along the storm’s projected path,” said Jamie Rhome, the NHC’s deputy director. “Melissa will continue moving slowly for up to four days.”

Jamaica on High Alert

In Jamaica, authorities ordered the closure of Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston at 8 p.m. local time and activated over 650 emergency shelters. Warehouses across the island were stocked with food and supplies.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness urged citizens to act immediately:

“I urge Jamaicans to take this weather threat seriously. Take all measures to protect yourself.”

The NHC warned that Melissa’s slow movement could bring multi-day damaging winds, prolonged power outages, and widespread isolation due to flooding and landslides.

Regional Impact

In the Dominican Republic, officials reported nearly 200 homes damaged, widespread power outages, and disrupted water systems affecting over half a million people. Floodwaters have also isolated more than two dozen communities.

The Bahamas Department of Meteorology said Melissa could bring tropical storm or hurricane conditions to the Southeast and Central Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands early next week.

Melissa is the 13th named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has predicted an above-normal season, with 13 to 18 named storms expected.