Tropical Storm Melissa Lashes the Caribbean with Torrential Rain, Flooding Fears, and Strengthening Winds

A Slow-Moving Storm Turns Dangerous

Tropical Storm Melissa has brought relentless rain, flooding, and power outages across the northern Caribbean, battering Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica as it slowly drifts westward through warm tropical waters.

The storm, packing sustained winds of 50 mph (80 km/h) , was last tracked roughly 320 miles (510 km) south-southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Moving at just 2 mph (4 km/h) , Melissa is crawling across the Caribbean — a pace that only worsens its flooding potential.

Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center warn that Melissa could strengthen into a hurricane by Friday. The slow-moving system is already unloading torrents of rain and triggering widespread concern across several island nations.

Dominican Republic Shuts Down as Floodwaters Rise

In the Dominican Republic, heavy rain pounded the capital Santo Domingo, flooding streets and knocking out traffic lights. Some roads turned into shallow rivers as wind gusts whipped through the city.

President Luis Abinader ordered schools and nonessential businesses in nine provinces to close through Thursday and urged residents in flood-prone zones to move to safer ground. By midweek, dozens of families had already taken refuge in shelters while more than 500 emergency workers fanned out across the south to assist.

Officials reported that dozens of water systems were knocked offline, cutting supply to nearly half a million people. Baseball games were canceled, and transport services were disrupted as the storm worsened.

Haiti Faces Deadly Flash Flooding and Landslides

Across the border in Haiti, the situation is growing dire. The country’s fragile infrastructure and steep, deforested hillsides make it especially vulnerable to heavy rain. Officials warned that flash floods and landslides could be deadly in low-lying or mountainous areas.

A hurricane watch is in effect for southern Haiti, from the border with the Dominican Republic to Port-au-Prince, as the storm’s outer bands dump relentless rain.

“Flooding is historically the deadliest calling card of tropical systems in this part of the world," said Michael Lowry, a hurricane and storm surge specialist. “The threat Melissa brings will be no exception."

Meteorologists expect between five and ten inches (12-25 centimeters) of rain across southern Haiti and the southern Dominican Republic through Friday, with localized totals far higher.

Jamaica Prepares as Melissa Strengthens

Jamaica is next in the storm’s path. A tropical storm watch remains in effect as government officials mobilize ahead of worsening weather.

Matthew Samuda, the island’s Minister of Water and Environment, confirmed that 881 shelters are ready to open if evacuations become necessary. “Our focus is on safety and preparedness," he said, urging residents to take the storm seriously.

Melissa’s exact path remains uncertain. The National Hurricane Center says the system could veer toward eastern Cuba or pass south of Jamaica, but both scenarios would still deliver intense rain and gusty winds. “This should be considered an extremely uncertain forecast," the agency noted, warning that “significant changes could be required."

An Early-Season Wake-Up Call

Melissa is the 13th named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season — and the first to form inside the Caribbean basin. Long-range projections suggest it could strengthen into a Category 3 hurricane by early next week if it remains over open water.

Rainfall totals of several inches are already reported across Hispaniola, with more expected through the weekend. Smaller accumulations are forecast in Aruba and Puerto Rico.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) had predicted an above-average season, with up to 18 named storms and as many as five major hurricanes.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30. For the Caribbean, Melissa’s slow churn through the region is a sobering reminder — it only takes one storm to turn days of calm into chaos.