Tropical Storm Melissa has formed in the Caribbean Sea, marking a significant event in this year’s Atlantic hurricane season. As of Tuesday morning (October 21), Melissa was located about 300 miles south of Haiti with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm is expected to intensify over the warm Caribbean waters and could reach hurricane status by Saturday (October 25).
The storm poses a significant threat to the northern Caribbean, particularly Hispaniola, where it could bring heavy rainfall and strong winds. This could lead to significant flooding and dangerous mudslides in parts of the Dominican Republic and Haiti through the weekend. A hurricane watch has been issued for parts of Haiti, while a tropical storm watch is in effect for Jamaica.
Forecasters are monitoring two main scenarios for Melissa’s path. The most likely scenario involves the storm moving northward by late week, potentially strengthening into a Category 1 hurricane and impacting Hispaniola. Alternatively, Melissa could drift westward, nearing Central America, possibly affecting Nicaragua or Honduras next week.
While the storm’s exact track remains uncertain, Puerto Rico is expected to experience some rain, and there is a low chance of Melissa impacting the mainland United States. However, rough surf and rip currents along the East Coast are possible next week. As the storm develops, its path and potential impacts will become clearer.
Melissa is the 13th named storm of the season and the first to form in the Caribbean Sea.
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