Hurricane Melissa Threatens Northern Caribbean
MIAMI – Tropical Storm Melissa strengthened into a hurricane early Monday and poses a notable threat to Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, teh Dominican Republic, the Bahamas, and the turks and Caicos Islands. U.S. forecasters predict Melissa will impact eastern Cuba early Wednesday, with potential rainfall of up to 12 inches (30 centimeters) in some areas.
In jamaica, the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston closed at 8 p.m. local time Saturday. A decision regarding the Sangster airport in Montego Bay has not been announced. More than 650 shelters have been activated across Jamaica, and officials report warehouses are stocked with thousands of food packages ready for distribution.
“I urge Jamaicans to take this weather threat seriously,” said Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness. “Take all measures to protect yourself.”
The U.S. National Hurricane Center warned Saturday afternoon that jamaica should complete preparations immediately, anticipating “multi-day damaging winds plus heavy rainfall, catastrophic flash flooding, landslides, damage, long-duration power communication outages, isolation.”
Haitian authorities have reported three deaths and five injuries resulting from the storm, including a collapse of a wall. Rising river levels, flooding, and a destroyed bridge in Sainte-suzanne, in the northeast, have also been reported. Ronald Délice,a Haitian department director of civil protection,stated,”The storm is causing a lot of concern with the way it’s moving,” as authorities organized food kit distribution.
In the Dominican Republic, nearly 200 homes have been damaged, water supply systems have failed affecting over half a million customers, and trees and traffic lights have been downed.Landslides and floodwaters have isolated over two dozen communities.
The Bahamas Department of Meteorology forecasts that Melissa could bring tropical storm or hurricane conditions to islands in the Southeast and Central Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands by early next week.
Melissa is the 13th named storm of the atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30. the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Management predicted an above-normal season, forecasting 13 to 18 named storms.