Tropical Storm Melissa in Caribbean Sea threatens Haiti, Dominican Republic ahead of Atlantic hurricane

According to the latest weather report by CNN, tropical storm Melissa has formed in the Caribbean Sea, signalling the continued activity of the Atlantic hurricane season.

The U.S. National Hurricane Centre (NHC) in Miami reports that Melissa had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (80kph) early Wednesday, October 22, 2025, and was centred about 325 miles (520 km) southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

NHC warns that a hurricane is expected for Southern Haiti, while a tropical storm is expected to pass through Jamaica.

Moreover, 5-10 inches (127-254 mm) of rain is possible in Southern Haiti and the southern Dominican Republic through Friday, October 24, 2025, with greater amounts of rain showers in some areas.

In addition to that, smaller amounts of rain showers are also expected in Jamaica, northern Hispaniola, Aruba and Puerto Rico.

Furthermore, the weather experts warn that the storm is developing over waters with extremely warm temperatures that are fueling its intensification.

The immediate risk is concentrated on the Northern Caribbean countries, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Hispaniola, due to strong winds and heavy rainfall that could trigger floods and landslides in the mountain region.

As reported by NHC, the forecasters highlight two key possibilities for Storm Melissa.

Either storm could bring a profound impact to the capitals of Haiti and the Dominican Republic or gradually steer Melissa through Central America.

Moreover, the experts assume that both scenarios will involve several days of Melissa over the Caribbean Sea, increasing the risk of storm surge, heavy rainfall and adverse weather conditions on the islands.

Additionally, Melissa will become the season’s 13th named storm and the first to form in the Caribbean Sea.

Furthermore, the storm is expected to reach hurricane strength by Saturday, October 25, 2025, but its exact strength remains unclear as U.S. forecasters warn that Melissa's track and forward movement are uncertain.