Melissa Threatens Jamaica; Rapid Intensification Likely

Hurricane Melissa strengthened to a Category 1 storm with 75 mph winds Saturday and is crawling west‑northwest at about 1–2 mph. The U.S. National Hurricane Center says rapid intensification is likely, and forecasters project Melissa could become a major — potentially high‑end Category 4 — hurricane by the weekend. Jamaica’s Meteorological Service projects Melissa will move near or make landfall along the island’s southern coast by Tuesday morning, and Jamaican authorities have declared the entire country a threatened area while utilities, airports and emergency crews prepare. The storm is expected to produce torrential rainfall of 15–25 inches across southern Jamaica and Hispaniola, with isolated totals to 35 inches in parts of Haiti, creating a high risk of life‑threatening flash flooding, landslides and widespread infrastructure damage. At least three people have died in Haiti, and additional fatalities and a missing person have been reported in the Dominican Republic. After affecting Jamaica Melissa is forecast to track north toward eastern Cuba, the Turks and Caicos and the central/southern Bahamas; impacts to Florida remain unlikely unless the storm’s timing of the northward turn changes.