Travel Alerts As Hurricane Melissa Strengthens: Severe Flooding And Winds Expected To Impact Jamaica, Haiti, And The Dominican Republic – Updates You Need To Know

Published on October 26, 2025

Hurricane Melissa is quickly intensifying successful nan Caribbean, threatening catastrophic conditions for Jamaica, Haiti, and nan Dominican Republic. As of Saturday evening, nan large wind escalated to a Category 2 hurricane, pinch winds reaching 100 mph. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) warns that Melissa could scope Category 5 position by Monday, making it 1 of nan astir powerful storms connected grounds successful nan region. This article explores nan existent situation, nan imaginable effect connected affected areas, and what travelers request to cognize arsenic nan hurricane approaches.

Hurricane Melissa’s Growing Threat

Melissa is presently moving astatine a slow pace—around 3 mph—through nan Caribbean, a facet that importantly raises nan threat level. As it crawls towards Jamaica and nan confederate parts of Haiti, nan storm’s rainfall is expected to beryllium a awesome concern, pinch up to 30 inches of rainfall forecasted successful immoderate areas. Localized rainfall totals could moreover scope 40 inches. This dense rainfall, mixed pinch tropical humidity, is expected to trigger terrible flooding and mudslides, particularly successful nan mountainous regions of Haiti and Jamaica.

Potential Impact connected Jamaica and Haiti

The land federation of Jamaica is expected to carnivore nan brunt of nan storm’s impact. The slow-moving quality of nan hurricane could origin monolithic flooding and prolonged rainfall, leaving Kingston and different regions exposed to nan consequence of vulnerable flooding, particularly successful areas for illustration Sandy Gully, a waterway that has been clogged pinch debris. As Melissa inches closer, winds are apt to increase, reaching hurricane spot by Sunday nighttime aliases early Monday.

In Haiti, nan business is likewise dire. The Haitian Civil Protection Agency has already reported casualties owed to landslides and flooding caused by nan storm’s outer rainbands. The dense downpours that person already impacted Haiti are expected to intensify, causing more casualties and extended harm to roads and infrastructure. The NHC has urged residents of some countries to prepare immediately for imaginable destruction.

A Rare Category 5 Storm successful nan Making

Forecasts bespeak that Melissa’s accelerated intensification could lead to a Category 5 hurricane by Monday. This would make nan large wind not only highly vulnerable but besides perchance record-breaking successful nan region. Category 5 hurricanes are nan astir destructive connected nan Saffir-Simpson scale, pinch winds exceeding 157 mph. As Jamaica braces for this possibility, authorities person implemented emergency protocols, including halting elective surgeries astatine hospitals and preparing for wide power outages.

What Travelers Need to Know

Travel Advisory: The US National Hurricane Center has issued a hurricane warning for Jamaica, advising against each non-essential travel. Southern Haiti remains nether a hurricane watch, and parts of the Dominican Republic are still grappling pinch ongoing storm-related issues. If you are presently walking successful nan affected regions aliases readying to visit, you should see postponing aliases altering your trip.

Flight Disruptions: Both Norman Manley International Airport and Sangster International Airport successful Jamaica person begun reducing operations, pinch Norman Manley group to adjacent its runways aft nan evening formation schedule. If you’re readying to depart from Jamaica aliases nan Dominican Republic, you should cheque pinch your hose for updated formation information and beryllium alert of imaginable delays aliases cancellations.

How nan Storm’s Slow Movement Increases Risk

One of nan main threats posed by Melissa is its slow speed. When hurricanes move slowly, they dump ample amounts of rainfall complete nan aforesaid areas, expanding nan consequence of flooding and landslides. This arena was seen during past storms, for illustration Hurricane Harvey successful 2017, which brought devastating flooding to Texas, and Hurricane Dorian successful 2019, which caused catastrophic harm successful nan Bahamas. In nan lawsuit of Melissa, nan mountainous terrain of Haiti and Jamaica will further exacerbate nan flooding, arsenic dense rainfall falls onto steep slopes, creating nan cleanable conditions for mudslides.

Travel Tips for Visitors and Residents successful Affected Areas

1. Stay Updated connected Weather Alerts: Continuously show section news outlets and charismatic authorities websites for real-time updates astir nan storm’s way and severity.
2. Prepare for Evacuations: If you’re successful Jamaica aliases Haiti, travel nan proposal of section authorities regarding removal routes and shelters. In lawsuit of an emergency, cognize wherever nan nearest shelter is located.
3. Secure Important Documents: Make judge your passport, identification, recreation documents, and immoderate basal medications are stored successful a waterproof container.
4. Follow Health and Safety Guidelines: With nan dense rainfall and imaginable for flooding, debar swimming successful rising waters, which could transportation vulnerable debris and contaminants.
5. Avoid Travel to Affected Regions: If you’re readying a travel to Jamaica aliases nan Caribbean, postpone your recreation plans until nan large wind has passed and conditions improve.

The Science Behind Melissa’s Rapid Intensification

Melissa’s explosive intensification tin beryllium traced to respective factors. The Caribbean Sea is notably warm, providing nan large wind pinch plentifulness of substance to strengthen. Additionally, nan deficiency of cooler waters beneath nan aboveground intends that nan large wind tin proceed feeding disconnected nan heat, starring to stronger winds and large wind surges. Global warming has been linked to much predominant instances of rapid intensification, a concerning inclination that could beryllium seen much often successful nan coming years arsenic water temperatures proceed to rise.