Overview
- Tropical Storm Melissa holds near 50 mph sustained winds with tropical-storm-force winds extending about 115 miles, according to the National Hurricane Center.
- Tropical storm watches are posted for Jamaica and a hurricane watch is in effect for southwestern Haiti, with forecasters noting these could be upgraded as conditions worsen.
- Guidance shows the storm slowing or stalling near Jamaica and Haiti through the weekend, raising the threat of torrential rain, flash floods and landslides on mountainous terrain.
- Early projections call for 8 to 12 inches of rain over southern Haiti and the Dominican Republic with locally higher totals above 14 inches, while Puerto Rico, Jamaica and Aruba could see 1 to 3 inches through Friday.
- Most forecast ensembles keep Melissa away from the U.S. mainland as it likely strengthens into a hurricane by late week, though track uncertainty persists due to evolving steering currents.