SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Tropical Storm Melissa was practically stationary within the central Caribbean on Friday as forecasters warned it might strengthen and swipe Jamaica as a strong hurricane and dump a staggering quantity of rain — as much as 35 inches (89 centimeters) — on southwest Haiti, the place they warned of catastrophic flooding and landslides.
The erratic storm was anticipated to drop copious rain on Jamaica and the southern areas of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Not less than three folks had been killed in Haiti, and one particular person was killed and one reported lacking in Dominican Republic.
“These heavy rains are just going to sit over one area for several days,” stated Jamie Rhome, deputy director on the U.S. Nationwide Hurricane Heart.
The storm was situated about 190 miles (310 kilometers) southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, and about 225 miles (360 kilometers) southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. It had most sustained winds of 65 mph (100 kph) and was shifting north at 2 mph (4 kph), the U.S. middle stated.
A hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning had been in impact for Jamaica and Haiti’s southwest peninsula.
The middle of Melissa is anticipated to maneuver close to or over Jamaica early subsequent week, forecasters stated.
As much as 25 inches (64 centimeters) of rain is forecast for components of Jamaica, southern Haiti and the southern Dominican Republic by way of Tuesday. As much as 35 inches of rain is feasible throughout Haiti’s Tiburon Peninsula, the middle stated. That was thought of an unusually excessive quantity even for a slow-moving storm.
The storm is then forecast to hit jap Cuba as a significant hurricane early Wednesday, the place as much as 12 inches (30 centimeters) might fall in some areas.
Catastrophic warnings for Haiti
The Nationwide Hurricane Heart warned that “heavy rainfall will result in catastrophic flash flooding and landslides across southwestern Haiti into early next week.”
It famous that robust winds might additionally final for a day or extra over Haiti’s Tiburon peninsula.
Haiti’s Civil Safety Company stated a landslide in Port-au-Prince killed two folks and injured one other, with the loss of life toll rising to a few. Earlier this week, a big tree fell on an aged man in southern Haiti and killed him, whereas 5 different folks within the nation’s central area had been injured in flooding,
The U.N. stated it has ready greater than 100 emergency shelters in Haiti’s southern area.
Wilgar Joseph stated he and his household had been leaving their residence in Les Cayes out of security as a result of it has a zinc roof.
“I’ll stay with a friend whose home is on higher ground so I can protect myself in case it gets out of control,” he stated.
In the meantime, hundreds of individuals residing in makeshift shelters throughout Port-au-Prince after gangs compelled them to flee their houses fearful in regards to the storm.
“The message on the radio is to protect ourselves,” stated Dina Georges. “How can I protect myself if I don’t have a home? I’m on the streets. And on top of that, I have two kids to protect.”
Nephtali Johnson Pierre, 35, echoed these sentiments: “I’m dealing with two storms: the gangs and the weather.”
‘A slow-moving disaster’
Melissa was anticipated to maneuver towards Jamaica over the weekend. It was forecast to strengthen right into a hurricane by Saturday and change into a significant hurricane by Sunday, probably reaching Class 4 standing earlier than daybreak on Monday.
Forecasters stated that Jamaica might see life-threatening flooding and landslides as a result of the bottom is already saturated from latest heavy rains unrelated to the storm.
The storm is shifting so slowly that components of Jamaica might expertise hurricane circumstances for 72 hours or longer, stated Alex DaSilva, AccuWeather’s lead hurricane knowledgeable.
“Melissa is evolving into a slow-motion disaster,” he stated. “Millions of people are at risk of catastrophic impacts. We are increasingly concerned about the threat of a humanitarian disaster unfolding, especially if this storm stalls.”
Marcus Thompson, who lives in Kingston, stated he coated his home windows and stocked up on water and canned meals.
“We’ve been through storms before, but it’s better to be prepared early this time,” he stated.
Others checked their roofs, cleaned gutters and charged electrical gadgets.
“I moved my car to higher ground and gathered all essential documents just in case,” stated Alton Williams, who lives in Mandeville.
In jap Kingston, Veronica James stated she was following updates and protecting her kids knowledgeable.
“If officials decide evacuation is necessary, we have a small bag ready with medicine and important papers,” she stated.
Colleges, well being facilities and authorities places of work closed throughout Jamaica on Thursday, with authorities warning that every one airports would shut inside 24 hours if a hurricane warning is issued. Greater than 650 shelters had been activated.
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness stated the storm’s gradual motion posed planning difficulties however famous the general public sector would shut by Friday afternoon.
“Jamaica is at risk,” he stated. “There is a threat.”
The Bahamas’ Overseas Affairs Ministry introduced it could evacuate Bahamian college students out of Jamaica on Friday forward of the storm.
Flooding persists in Dominican Republic
The storm has broken practically 200 houses within the Dominican Republic and knocked out water provide techniques, affecting greater than half 1,000,000 prospects. It additionally downed timber and site visitors lights and unleashed a few small landslides.
All public colleges throughout the Dominican Republic had been closed Friday, as had been authorities places of work in 12 provinces below alert. Greater than two dozen communities had been minimize off by floodwaters.
“This is an event that we should be following minute by minute,” stated Juan Manuel Méndez García, emergency operations director within the Dominican Republic.
Officers famous that evacuations in areas below alert had been obligatory.
“The main thing here is to save lives. The risk is the enormous amount of rain,” stated Dominican President Luis Abinader.
Melissa is the thirteenth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30.
The U.S. Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had predicted an above-normal season with 13 to 18 named storms.
Myers Jr. reported from Kingston, Jamaica and Sanon from Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
