Melissa Continues To Strengthen, Approaching Hurricane Status

As of 8am this morning, Melissa has now strengthened into a 70 mile per hour tropical storm, just shy of being a hurricane. Tropical Storm Melissa is set to continue its west-northwest jog this weekend while rapidly intensifying. As Melisaa approaches Jamaica, it will make a sharp turn towards the northeast. This will likely take Melissa near or directly over Jamaica as a major hurricane. Given the potential for Melissa to rapidly intensify and its slow movement, hurricane warnings have been issued for Jamaica. Both hurricane-force winds and life-threatening flash flooding are likely for Jamaica if Melissa continues on its current track. Haiti is expected to experience catastrophic flash-flooding and landslides due to heavy rain over the southern mountains of the Tiburon Peninsula.