Tropical Storm Melissa began unleashing heavy rains over Hispaniola on Tuesday, raising flood concerns across parts of the Caribbean later this week.
In the Dominican Republic, rainfall caused traffic snarls in the capital, Santo Domingo, and downed at least one traffic light. The country’s professional baseball league also canceled games. In Haiti, fears of severe flooding mounted, given the country’s history of storm-related erosion and destruction.
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As of Tuesday night, Melissa was located about 325 miles (520 kilometers) south-southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (80 kph), moving west at 13 mph (20 kph), according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami. A hurricane watch was issued for southern Haiti, while Jamaica was under a tropical storm watch.
Forecasters predicted 5 to 10 inches (12–25 centimeters) of rain in southern Haiti and the southern Dominican Republic through Friday, with several inches expected in Jamaica. Northern areas of Hispaniola, as well as Aruba and Puerto Rico, could also see heavy rain.
Authorities warned that rainfall could continue beyond Friday, with flash flooding and landslides posing significant risks. While Melissa is expected to gradually strengthen, its exact track and speed remain uncertain, prompting forecasters to urge residents in affected areas to stay alert.
Source: AP