By DÁNICA COTO, JOHN MYERS JR. and EVENS SANON Associated Press
Tropical Storm Melissa is nearly stationary in the central Caribbean, with forecasters warning it could soon strengthen and brush past Jamaica as a powerful hurricane. Catastrophic flooding and landslides are likely in southern Haiti in the coming days. U.S. forecasters said the storm's slow movement will mean days of exposure to heavy rain and strong winds, which will worsen flooding and other dangers. Melissa had 60 mph winds early Friday. It could strengthen into a hurricane Saturday and a major hurricane later in the weekend. Authorities were opening shelters and making other preparations in Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
Forecasters say Tropical Storm Rafael has formed in the Caribbean and will bring heavy rain to Jamaica and the Cayman Islands before strengthening to a hurricane and likely hitting Cuba. A tropical storm warning is in effect for Jamaica and a hurricane watch was in effect for the Cayman Islands and for parts of Cuba. The U.S. National Hurricane Center says that later in the week it also is expected to bring heavy rainfall to Florida and portions of the U.S. Southeast. The storm was expected to move near Jamaica by late Monday. The forecast shows the storm could become a hurricane on Tuesday en route to Cuba.
Florida work crews are hustling to remove wreckage from one hurricane ahead of another. Meanwhile, thousands of people fearing a once-in-century direct hit from Hurricane Milton are streaming out of the populous Tampa Bay region to seek safety inland. Though slightly weakened, Milton is still a powerful Category 4 storm. It was expected to plow ashore late Wednesday or early Thursday and remain fairly strong as it crosses Florida. The system could bring towering storm surges and the power to turn debris from Hurricane Helene into dangerous projectiles.
By HAVEN DALEY and MIKE SCHNEIDER Associated Press
Milton strengthened rapidly into a Category 5 hurricane on a path toward Florida. The system is threatening the densely populated Tampa area with a potential direct hit and menacing the same stretch of coastline that was battered by Hurricane Helene less than two weeks ago. The center of the storm could come ashore Wednesday in the Tampa Bay region, which has not endured a head-on hit by a hurricane in more than a century. Scientists expect the system to weaken slightly before landfall, though it is still forecast to hit as a Category 3 hurricane or higher.
Hurricane Ernesto is barreling toward Bermuda after leaving hundreds of thousands of people in Puerto Rico without power or water as sweltering heat envelop the U.S. territory, raising concerns about people's health. A hurricane warning is in effect for Bermuda on Thursday, with Ernesto expected to pass near or over the island on Saturday. Ernesto is forecast to become near Category 3 hurricane strength on Friday and drop between four to eight inches of rain in Bermuda with up to 12 inches in isolated areas.
By JOHN MYERS JR. and RENLOY TRAIL Associated Press
Hurricane Beryl is roaring by Jamaica as islanders scramble to make preparations after the powerful Category 4 storm earlier killed at least six people and caused significant damage in the southeast Caribbean. People in Kingston boarded up windows and fishermen pulled their boats out of the water. Workers dismantled roadside advertising boards to protect them from the lashing winds. A hurricane warning is in effect for Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. Beryl is forecast to weaken slightly over the next day or two but still be at or near major-hurricane strength when it passes near or over Jamaica on Wednesday.
Hurricane Beryl has made landfall on the Caribbean island of Carriacou. The dangerous and powerful Category 4 storm is the earliest one of its strength to form in the Atlantic, fueled by record warm waters. Carriacou is one of the islands of Grenada. Officials there reported damage on Monday that included roofs being blown off in maximum winds increasing to top winds of 150 mph, or about 240 kmph, just shy of a Category 5 storm. Hurricane warnings were in effect for Barbados, Grenada, Tobago and St. Vincent and the Grenadines as thousands of people hunkered down in homes and shelters
