Haiti in the Eye of Tropical Storm Melissa

Uncertain trajectory and violent winds; between rough seas and atmospheric uncertainty, the Southern Peninsula prepares for a new episode of climate vulnerability. PORT-AU-PRINCE.— Haiti's Southern Peninsula is preparing to face the potentially devastating effects of tropical storm «Melissa», formed this Tuesday morning in the Caribbean Sea. This system, the thirteenth of the current year's Atlantic basin, poses a serious threat to the country, already weakened by social, economic, and environmental crises. According to information from the Directorate General of Civil Protection (DGPC), the storm organized south of the Caribbean Sea and is generating heavy rains accompanied by violent winds, likely to cause floods and landslides, particularly in the departments of Sud, Grand’Anse, and Nippes. Still an uncertain trajectory On Tuesday morning, Melissa was located approximately 480 kilometers south of Port-au-Prince, moving west at an average speed of 22 km/h, according to the Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC). Sustained winds reached 80 km/h, with storm-force gusts extending up to nearly 185 kilometers from the center of the phenomenon. Meteorologists anticipate a change in trajectory towards the north or northwest over the next 48 to 72 hours. The NHC does not rule out the possibility that the storm may slow down and remain in the region for several days, due to a weakening of atmospheric currents. Some forecast models indicate a direct passage over Haiti, while others lean towards a deviation towards Cuba or Central America. An evolution into a Category 1 hurricane remains possible if the system stays in sufficiently warm waters. Alerts and preparations in the South Given this uncertainty, a hurricane watch has been issued for the Tiburon area and the entire southern coast of Haiti. A tropical storm warning is also in effect for Jamaica. Heavy rainfall is expected, potentially reaching 150 to 250 mm in some areas, which increases the risk of flash floods and landslides in mountainous areas and saturated watersheds. Local authorities, in coordination with communal civil protection committees, are calling on residents to avoid flood-prone areas, secure their homes, and prepare emergency kits. «Vigilance is essential. We invite the population to follow official weather bulletins and strictly adhere to safety instructions,» declared a DGPC official, emphasizing the need to limit non-essential travel. A country already tested by natural disasters This new meteorological threat comes in a particularly precarious context. Haiti, regularly hit by storms and hurricanes, remains one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change in the region. Recent floods in Artibonite and the South have already caused significant damage to agricultural and road infrastructure. As Melissa continues its uncertain path in the Caribbean, the country is once again preparing to test its resilience in the face of a natural phenomenon that could worsen an already critical humanitarian situation. Jean Mapou