Weather & Science
Storm Melissa's Slow Pace Is What Makes It Risky for Caribbean
The slowness of the storm means it is likely to increase rainfall, dumping several feet of water in some areas.
Tropical Storm Melissa off the coasts of Jamaica and Haiti on Oct. 24.
Source: NOAA
For days, Storm Melissa has barely budged. It portends potentially catastrophic flooding for parts of the Caribbean as soon as this weekend.
Melissa is projected to morph into a Category 4 hurricane—one notch below the highest level—while lingering off the coasts of Jamaica and Haiti. The risk is clear: a storm akin to Hurricane Harvey, which produced deadly flooding when it stalled over Houston in 2017.