Overview
- National Hurricane Center advisories began Tuesday after Melissa organized over the central Caribbean with sustained winds near 80–85 km/h.
- At 14.3°N, 71.7°W, the center was about 480 km south of Port-au-Prince, moving west at roughly 22 km/h with a gradual turn to the northwest then north expected.
- A hurricane watch is in effect for parts of Haiti and a tropical storm watch is posted for Jamaica, with Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Cuba urged to monitor updates.
- Forecasters project strengthening through the week with a reasonable chance of reaching Category 1 by October 25, though exact intensity and track remain uncertain.
- Heavy rain, flooding, dangerous surf and landslides are possible in Hispaniola, while Mexican agencies report no direct threat to Mexico given the storm’s distance and current trajectory.