Tropical Storm Melissa is anticipated to convey days of heavy rain to the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Jamaica and should set off life-threatening flash flooding, the Nationwide Hurricane Heart says.
It’s forecast to turn into a serious hurricane by early subsequent week, based on 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 find out about Tropical Storm Melissa.
Tropical Storm Melissa forecast and path
On Thursday, Melissa’s core was about 280 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and about 220 miles southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, the hurricane center said. Most sustained winds have been 45 mph, with tropical storm-force winds extending as much as 115 miles out from the storm’s heart. It was inching alongside at solely 2 mph.
The storm is anticipated to linger over the central Caribbean for the subsequent a number of days, based on Nolan, as it’s transferring very slowly. It’s sitting over very heat waters.
Nikki Nolan/CBS Information 
On the forecast monitor, Melissa is “anticipated to be nearer to Jamaica and the southwestern portion of Haiti through the subsequent couple of days,” the hurricane heart stated.
Nikki Nolan/CBS Information 
Little change within the storm’s power is anticipated over the subsequent day or so, however “vital strengthening is anticipated by late Friday and over the weekend,” the hurricane heart stated.
A hurricane watch is in place for Jamaica and the southwestern peninsula of Haiti from the border with the Dominican Republic to Port-au-Prince. A tropical storm warning can also be in impact for Jamaica.
Rainfall forecasts
Melissa is prone to convey 6 to 12 inches of rain to the southern Dominican Republic, southern Haiti and jap Jamaica by means of Sunday, with domestically greater quantities doable, the hurricane heart stated. “Extra heavy rainfall is feasible past Sunday,” it continued, however uncertainty about Melissa’s monitor and velocity makes the precise totals more durable to foretell.
“Regardless, vital, life-threatening flash flooding and quite a few landslides are anticipated,” forecasters stated.
