Melissa Intensifies into a Hurricane with Potential for Rapid Strengthening

On Saturday afternoon, Tropical Storm Melissa escalated into a hurricane, with forecasts indicating further strengthening on the horizon.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) issued a statement, "Hurricane Melissa Advisory 17A: Melissa has intensified into a hurricane and is expected to rapidly intensify into a major hurricane by the end of the weekend."

This development follows Melissa's path of destruction on Friday, leaving floods, landslides, and structural damage across several provinces in the Dominican Republic.

Images from affected areas reveal streets transformed into rivers in Herrera and San Cristóbal, with partially submerged vehicles and families seeking higher ground for safety.

Authorities have issued warnings across 12 provinces, advising residents to avoid crossing rivers and streams due to the threat of sudden surges. Severe flooding and landslides have been reported in Greater Santo Domingo and southern coastal areas.

The NHC projects that the system could gain hurricane strength over the weekend, with the potential for heavy rainfall exceeding 350 millimeters in southern Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica.

Persistent rainfall has already led to the evacuation of over a thousand people and at least one fatality in the Dominican Republic. Meanwhile, Haiti has reported three deaths due to landslides, according to CNN reports.

Chris Dolce, a meteorologist with CNN Weather, explained that Melissa's slow movement exacerbates the risks as rain accumulates over the same regions for days. He warned that the storm could reach Category 4 status within the next 48 hours.

Potential Threat to Eastern Cuba

This cyclone, the thirteenth named system in the Atlantic for 2025, is producing maximum winds of 113 km/h and is situated approximately 243 kilometers southeast of Kingston, Jamaica. Projections suggest it could directly impact eastern Cuba between Tuesday and Wednesday.

According to the NHC models cited by local news, the probability of damaging winds exceeding 93 km/h is between 21% and 33% for Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, and Holguín.

Melissa has become emblematic of an exceptionally active hurricane season. The NOAA highlights that rising ocean temperatures and slowing cyclone movements are increasing the duration and intensity of rainfall in the Caribbean.

Amidst this regional vulnerability, the Cuban population closely monitors Melissa's progression, a reminder that the Caribbean remains in the storm's crosshairs.