Jamaica Braces for TS Melissa

Jamaica is on high alert as Tropical Storm Melissa is forecast to intensify into a hurricane and threaten catastrophic wind damage, flooding, and storm surge early next week.

Melissa is now packing winds up to 70 mph and is located about 155 miles southeast of Kingston. It is expected to strengthen rapidly as it moves slowly, with landfall likely late Monday or early Tuesday.

The storm’s sluggish pace has already caused deadly floods and landslides in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Local reports are that it has killed at least four people and displaced more than a thousand.

In an update issued by the Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, it said that “a hurricane warning is in effect for Jamaica, as Tropical Storm Melissa nears hurricane strength and is expected to rapidly intensify today.” It added that TS Melissa is expected to produce rainfall amounts reaching 15 to 25 inches over parts of Jamaica in the next few days.

Southern Haiti remains under a hurricane watch.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness urged Jamaicans to take the storm seriously, saying it “could be disastrous, so take all measures to protect yourself.”