Tropical Storm Melissa continues to spin in the Caribbean. At the same time, “life-threatening and catastrophic flash flooding and landslides” are expected over portions of Southern Hispaniola and Jamaica through the weekend, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
The NHC said in an 8 p.m. ET advisory on Friday, Oct. 24, that Melissa was located about 225 miles southwest of Port-Au-Prince and 190 miles southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph with higher gusts.
Melissa is forecasted to become a hurricane by Saturday and a major hurricane by Sunday, Oct. 26.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/tropical-storm-melissa-could-become-114449500.html
Tropical Storm Melissa is strengthening as it moves through the Caribbean and could become a hurricane soon. Its slow pace makes it dangerous because prolonged rain and winds could trigger flooding and landslides in Jamaica, Haiti, and Cuba. Local authorities are preparing with shelters and some evacuations, but fragile roads, bridges, and hospitals leave communities vulnerable. Experts say slower, stronger storms like this may be linked to warming oceans. International aid is mobilizing, but gaps remain. Every degree of path shift could overwhelm relief efforts. Residents must take warnings seriously because the next 48 hours will determine who survives and who suffers.