FLORIDA — Tropical Storm Melissa continues churning in the central Caribbean, and forecasters warn it could rapidly intensify into a major hurricane as it shifts closer to Florida early next week.
Meteorologists say the storm’s path remains uncertain, but any track into the Gulf of Mexico would raise the risk of dangerous wind, rain, and coastal flooding along Florida’s west coast.
Officials are urging Floridians to closely monitor the storm throughout the weekend.
Potential Threat to Florida
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is tracking Melissa as it slowly moves west of Haiti and Jamaica. Current projections suggest these potential impacts for Florida:
- Coastal flooding along the west coast
- Strong rip currents and high surf beginning this weekend
- Increasing risk of heavy rainfall and strong wind if the storm turns north into the Gulf
- Localized power outage potential depending on landfall zone
Even if Melissa does not directly strike Florida, the storm’s large size could affect much of the state’s coastline.
Storm Conditions Right Now
As of Friday, Melissa was:
- About 215 miles southeast of Kingston, Jamaica
- Nearly stationary, moving at 2 mph
- Producing maximum sustained winds of 45 mph
Forecasters expect the storm to strengthen into a hurricane by Saturday and possibly a Category 4 by early Monday.
Severe Flooding in the Caribbean
While Florida watches closely, the storm is already creating dangerous conditions south of the U.S.:
- Up to 20 inches of rain could hit southern Haiti and eastern Jamaica
- Catastrophic flash flooding and landslides are expected
- Three flood-related deaths have been reported in Haiti
- 200+ homes damaged in the Dominican Republic
Experts warn Melissa is a “slow-motion disaster” due to its stalled movement.
Why Melissa’s Track Matters for Florida
A subtle shift near Jamaica will determine whether Melissa:
- Turns north into the Gulf → Increased Florida threat
- Moves east into the Atlantic → Lower U.S. risk
Forecasters say Florida should remain on alert through early next week as models continue to update.
Do you live in Florida? Are you preparing for possible impacts from Tropical Storm Melissa?
Comment below — what county are you in, and are you following the forecasts?
