Tropical Storm Melissa is predicted to convey days of heavy rain to the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Jamaica and will set off life-threatening flash flooding, the Nationwide Hurricane Heart says.
It’s forecast to change into a significant hurricane by early subsequent week, in line with CBS Information meteorologist Nikki Nolan.
Melissa, which is the thirteenth named storm of the Atlantic season, is not anticipated to have main impacts on the mainland United States.
Here is what to learn about Tropical Storm Melissa.
Tropical Storm Melissa forecast and path
On Thursday, Melissa’s core was about 290 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and about 200 miles south-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, the hurricane middle stated. Most sustained winds had been 45 mph, with tropical storm-force winds extending as much as 115 miles out from the storm’s middle. It was inching alongside at solely 2 mph.
The storm is predicted to linger over the central Caribbean for the following a number of days, in line with Nolan, as it’s shifting very slowly. It’s sitting over very heat waters.
Nikki Nolan/CBS Information
On the forecast observe, Melissa is “anticipated to be nearer to Jamaica and the southwestern portion of Haiti throughout the subsequent couple of days,” the hurricane middle stated.
Nikki Nolan/CBS Information 
Little change within the storm’s energy is predicted over the following day or so, however “important strengthening is predicted by late Friday and over the weekend,” the hurricane middle stated.
A hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning had been in place for Jamaica and the southwestern peninsula of Haiti from the border with the Dominican Republic to Port-au-Prince.
Rainfall forecasts
Melissa is more likely to convey 6 to 12 inches of rain to the southern Dominican Republic, southern Haiti and jap Jamaica by Sunday, with regionally larger quantities doable, the hurricane middle stated. “Extra heavy rainfall is feasible past Sunday,” it continued, however uncertainty about Melissa’s observe and velocity makes the precise totals more durable to foretell.
“Regardless, important, life-threatening flash flooding and quite a few landslides are anticipated,” forecasters stated.
