Storm Melissa intensifies into a hurricane

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Forecasters expect Melissa to bring up to 360 millimeters of rain to some areas, leading to catastrophic flooding and landslides in all three countries. If Melissa does not change direction, it will hit southern Haiti on Saturday and reach Jamaica by evening.

Melissa is set to strengthen to at least a Category 3 hurricane and bring winds of up to 180 kilometres per hour to Jamaica from Sunday into Tuesday. There are concerns that the extended time it will hit Jamaica is likely to cause significant damage.

The storm has already claimed its first life in Haiti. An elderly man was hit by a falling tree. The Dominican Republic and Haiti will be hit by relentless downpours from Friday to Sunday, bringing 200 to 360 millimeters of rain. Local residents fear landslides and flash floods.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami warned of life-threatening flooding in Jamaica and southern Hispaniola, the island where Haiti and the Dominican Republic are located. Flood warning. The storm is currently moving at a speed of five kilometers per hour and was 350 kilometers from the Jamaican capital a few hours ago.

According to Haiti's civil protection, the most serious situation is in the suburbs of Port-au-Prince and in the Artibonite region. In the Dominican Republic, many water systems are out of service, negatively affecting about half a million people. The Atlantic hurricane season will last until the end of November, and Melissa became the 13th named storm of the year.

Source: abcnews, Editorial Weathersunshine.com