Hurricane Melissa Intensifies Over the Caribbean, Bringing Deadly Floods and Powerful Winds to Jamaica and Haiti

A Storm Gathering Strength

Hurricane Melissa has exploded into a monster storm over the Caribbean, now a powerful Category 4 hurricane pushing toward Jamaica with catastrophic force. What began as a slow-moving tropical system has turned into a deadly threat, unleashing torrents of rain across the region and leaving destruction in its wake.

Late Saturday night, Melissa’s center was about 200 kilometers (125 miles) south-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, spinning with winds of 185 kilometers per hour (115 miles per hour) . Forecasters warn the storm could reach Category 5 strength before making landfall early this week.

The system’s movement is agonizingly slow — just 7 kilometers per hour (4 miles per hour) — a pace that all but guarantees flooding. “Unfortunately, for communities along its path, conditions are increasingly dire," said Jamie Rhome, deputy director of the National Hurricane Center.

Jamaica on High Alert

The Jamaican government is mobilizing for what could be one of the island’s most dangerous storms in recent memory. Prime Minister Andrew Holness urged residents not to underestimate the hurricane. “Take all measures to protect yourself," he said in a public address.

Airports have been closed, flights canceled, and over 650 emergency shelters are open across the country. Authorities confirmed that warehouses are stocked with food and medical supplies in anticipation of long power outages.

Disaster response minister Desmond McKenzie said officials are ready to enforce evacuations if necessary. “Many people in low-lying and flood-prone areas have not moved yet," he said. “That decision may be taken out of their hands soon."

Forecasters expect up to 76 centimeters (30 inches) of rain in parts of Jamaica, with localized totals possibly exceeding one meter. “There is potential for flooding in every parish," warned Evan Thompson, head of the Jamaica Meteorological Service. “If you live near a river or gully, move now — before the rain comes."

Haiti and the Dominican Republic Already Hit Hard

Melissa’s path has already proved deadly. At least four people have been killed — three in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic — and another person remains missing. The storm’s outer bands triggered landslides, toppled trees, and washed out roads across Hispaniola.

In Port-au-Prince, Haiti, two people were killed when a hillside gave way, burying part of a neighborhood. Another person died in Marigot after being struck by a falling tree. “The storm is causing a lot of concern with the way it’s moving," said Ronald Delice, a civil protection director in Haiti. “It just will not go away."

Rising rivers in northern Haiti have flooded entire communities, and a major bridge in Sainte-Suzanne was destroyed after the water burst through its banks. In the Dominican Republic, authorities report nearly 200 homes damaged, widespread power outages, and more than 500,000 people without running water.

Cuba and the Bahamas Next in Line

The storm is expected to continue its slow crawl toward the northwest, reaching Cuba’s eastern provinces — including Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, and Holguín — by Tuesday. Forecasters warn of up to 30 centimeters (12 inches) of rain and life-threatening flash floods, especially along Cuba’s southern coast.

Beyond Cuba, the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands are preparing for high surf, heavy rain, and possible hurricane-force winds by midweek.

An Unforgiving Pattern

Melissa’s crawl across the Caribbean has made it especially dangerous. Every hour it lingers brings more rain, more erosion, and a higher risk of landslides and flash floods. Power and communication lines are already down across parts of Hispaniola, and forecasters warn that Jamaica could face “days of severe, life-threatening conditions."

Authorities across the region are urging vigilance. “Be ready to ride this out for several days," said Rhome from the National Hurricane Center.

Melissa is the 13th named storm of this year’s Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted an above-average season, and this storm — vast, slow, and unrelenting — is living up to that warning.

As rain pelts the Caribbean and winds rise off Jamaica’s coast, residents prepare for the long, tense hours ahead. The storm’s eye has not yet arrived, but its power is already being felt. The sea is growing darker, and the wind now carries a low, restless roar.