(Yahoo News)-The National Hurricane Center is tracking newly formed Tropical Storm Melissa — the 13th named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. The storm is expected to gradually strengthen over the next few days. A hurricane watch has been issued for portions of Haiti, while a tropical storm watch is in effect for Jamaica. Melissa is expected to bring heavy rainfall, which could produce significant flash flooding and mudslides.
Forecasters advised that those in the Dominican Republic and Cuba and those not in the designated hurricane watch zone in Haiti should monitor the progress of Melissa.
There is significant uncertainty about how strong it may become and what its path may be. According to the Weather Channel, the possible outcomes range from the storm making an abrupt northeastern turn and heading out into the Atlantic Ocean, continuing to track west across Central America, or shifting northward over Cuba and eventually the U.S. Gulf Coast.
The NHC said in its latest advisory that the Hurricane Hunters are investigating Melissa. They are a specialized team of scientists and pilots from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Air Force Reserve who are trained to fly aircraft directly into hurricanes and tropical storms to gather data to help meteorologists.
Where is Tropical Storm Melissa and what is its path?
- Melissa was located about 305 miles south of Port-au-Prince, Haiti
- The storm has maximum sustained winds of 50 mph
- It’s moving west at 14 mph
“A decrease in forward speed and a gradual turn to the northwest and north is expected during the next few days,” the NHC said. “On the forecast track, Melissa is expected to approach the southwestern portion of Haiti and Jamaica later this week.”
Watches and warnings in effect
According to the NHC, these are the following watches and warnings in place:
A hurricane watch is in effect for:
- Southern coast of Haiti from the border with the Dominican Republic to Port-Au-Prince
“A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area,” the NHC said. “A watch is typically issued 48 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous.”
A tropical storm watch is in effect for:
- Jamaica
“A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours,” the NHC said.
What are the storm’s expected impacts and timing?
Within the hurricane watch area in Haiti, hurricane conditions are possible starting on Thursday, while tropical storm conditions could start in Jamaica on Thursday or Friday.
Rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches are expected through Friday in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, which could result in significant flash flooding and mudslides. Additional heavy rainfall is possible beyond Friday, but the track and forward speed of Melissa are uncertain.
In Aruba, Puerto Rico and Jamaica, about 1 to 3 inches of rain is expected through Friday, with flash and urban flooding possible in Puerto Rico through at least Friday.
How is the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season shaping up?
So far, the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, which began June 1 and runs through the end of November, has been relatively mild. There have been 13 named storms and four hurricanes, three of which developed into major hurricanes. All four of those hurricanes have followed similar tracks that have taken them away from the U.S. mainland. At this point in the 2024 season, the country had already been hit by two massively destructive storms, Helene and Milton, which devastated whole swaths of the Southeastern U.S.