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Tropical Storm Melissa maintains its strength over the central Caribbean and continues to move slowly toward the north-northwest, with a gradual increase in the risk of heavy rains, damaging winds, and high surf along the eastern coast of Cuba this weekend.
According to the bulletin from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) of the United States, at 5:00 PM (Eastern Time), the center of Melissa was located at 15.6 degrees North latitude and 75.5 degrees West longitude, approximately 300 kilometers south-southeast of Kingston (Jamaica) and 475 kilometers southwest of Port-au-Prince (Haiti).
The agency warned that interests in Cuba should monitor the progress of Melissa, as the risk of torrential rains, strong winds, and dangerous waves “continues to increase” for the eastern region of the island.
The eastern provinces of Cuba could experience intense rainfall, landslides, and possible coastal flooding starting this weekend, especially in mountainous and coastal areas of the east.
Melissa's slow movement could worsen the impact of the rainfall, with significant and persistent accumulations.
The bulletin also warns of swells and strong waves that will begin to affect the eastern region of Cuba, along with Jamaica and Haiti, in the coming days, posing a risk of rip currents and minor coastal flooding in areas exposed to onshore winds.
Currently, the maximum sustained winds reach 75 km/h, with higher gusts, and a gradual strengthening is expected over the next 24 hours, followed by a more rapid intensification over the weekend.
Forecasts indicate that Melissa could become a hurricane on Saturday and reach a higher category by the end of Sunday, urgent information that is barely reaching the Cuban population suffering from blackouts lasting over 20 hours in some areas, a situation worsened this Thursday by a partial collapse of the electrical system.
The NHC also reported that the tropical storm force wind fields extend up to 220 kilometers from the center, meaning that its effects could be felt even in areas far from the direct path.
Meanwhile, Jamaica and the southwest of Haiti remain under hurricane watch and tropical storm warning, with predictions of rainfall between 200 and 350 millimeters (8 to 14 inches) and potentially catastrophic damage from flooding and landslides.
Melissa continues to move at a speed of 4 km/h, with a minimum central pressure of 1001 millibars, making it a slow-moving system, laden with moisture and with high destructive potential.
The National Civil Defense General Staff (DC) issued a early warning about Tropical Storm Melissa this Wednesday, which poses a potential threat to Cuban territory.
In the statement, the DC emphasized the need for the eastern and central provinces of the country to maintain strict vigilance over the possible trajectory and development of the organism.
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