Tropical Storm Melissa has shaped within the Caribbean, the Miami-based Nationwide Hurricane Heart mentioned Tuesday morning.
Melissa, the thirteenth named storm within the Atlantic this 12 months, is just not anticipated to have main impacts on the mainland United States, however there may be uncertainty on its path and depth, the hurricane heart mentioned.
Right here’s what to learn about Tropical Storm Melissa.
A satellite tv for pc picture of Tropical Storm Melissa within the Caribbean at 4:50 p.m. Japanese Time on Oct. 21, 2025.
NOAA/NESDIS/STAR
Tropical Storm Melissa forecast and path
As of Tuesday evening, the storm was about 325 miles south-southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and shifting west at about 13 mph, the hurricane heart mentioned. Most sustained winds are close to 50 mph, in accordance with the middle, with tropical storm drive winds extending outwards as much as 140 miles from the middle of the storm.
Melissa was anticipated to convey “heavy rains” to Haiti and the Dominican Republic by at the very least Friday, the hurricane heart forecast, with rainfall totals of as much as 10 inches.
Aruba, Puerto Rico and Jamaica might see as much as 3 inches of rain by Friday, the hurricane heart mentioned.
A gradual flip to the north and northwest is anticipated within the coming days, the company mentioned. The storm is anticipated to lower in velocity and should linger over the Caribbean due to weakening steering currents.
A spaghetti mannequin exhibits a number of choices for Melissa’s longer path. Many variations of the mannequin present the storm passing over Haiti, although it’s additionally doable Melissa travels over Cuba or turns towards Central America.
The storm could stall close to Haiti and Jamaica as a Class 1 hurricane. A hurricane watch has been issued for the southern coast and Tiburon peninsula of Haiti, whereas a tropical storm watch has been issued for Jamaica, the hurricane heart mentioned.
Along with heavy rainfall, the storm is anticipated to convey the danger of great flash flooding to parts of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, with the hazard of landslides, the hurricane heart reported.
Preparations to “protect life and property” ought to be full by Thursday, the company mentioned.
There’s nonetheless “significant uncertainty in the track and intensity forecast” of the storm, the hurricane heart mentioned. Greater than half of pc fashions present the storm turning to the west, whereas many nonetheless present it heading north. If the storm turns west, it could affect the Gulf.
Hispaniola — which incorporates Haiti and the Dominican Republican — together with Cuba, ought to proceed to observe forecasts, the company mentioned.
Will Tropical Storm Melissa affect the U.S.?
Tropical Storm Melissa is at present unlikely to affect the mainland United States.
The spaghetti mannequin for the storm doesn’t present it approaching South Florida or the remainder of the U.S. mainland as of now. The storm additionally appears unlikely to strongly affect the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
