Tropical Storm Melissa forms in the Caribbean, hurricane watch issued for Haiti

Santo Domingo.- The National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported this Tuesday morning the formation of Tropical Storm Melissa in the Caribbean, issuing initial warnings and watches. A hurricane watch is currently in effect for parts of Haiti.

The storm was located approximately 300 miles off Port-au-Prince with sustained winds of 50 mph. The NHC noted that environmental conditions are becoming increasingly favorable for development as the system moves slowly over the central Caribbean Sea. Strengthening low-level winds and atmospheric conditions may allow Melissa to intensify over the next 24 hours.

Melissa is expected to bring heavy rain, gusty winds, and dangerous waves to the ABC Islands (Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao) in the coming days. Instability and moisture from the storm could also affect Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Jamaica, and Cuba, raising the risk of local flooding and river swells by the end of the week. Heavy rains with a significant risk of mudslides are expected in the Dominican Republic.

While it is too early to determine a precise path, current forecasts do not indicate an immediate threat to South Florida. Authorities urge residents across the Caribbean, from the Dominican Republic to eastern Cuba, to monitor the storm closely in the coming days.