On Saturday, October 25, 2025, in its latest report on Hurricane Melissa at 5:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (0900 UTC), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced that a hurricane watch was in effect for the southwestern peninsula of Haiti from the border with the Dominican Republic to Port-au-Prince.

The center of Tropical Storm Melissa was located at 16.3 degrees North latitude and 75.0 degrees West longitude, approximately 385 km southwest of Port-au-Prince. A slow (6 km/h) west-northwestward movement is expected this Saturday through Sunday evening. A turn toward the north and northeast is forecast for Monday and Tuesday. On the forecast track, the center of Melissa is expected to move near or over Jamaica over the weekend and early next week, and could be near or over eastern Cuba by the middle of next week.

Melissa is expected to produce heavy rainfall through Tuesday, ranging from 15 inches (38 cm) to 25 inches (63 cm) in parts of southern Hispaniola, with locally higher amounts of up to 35 inches (88 cm) on the Tiburon Peninsula in Haiti. Significant and life-threatening flash flooding and landslides are anticipated in southern Haiti. Additional heavy rainfall is likely after Sunday evening, but uncertainty about Melissa's track and speed reduces confidence in the exact additional rainfall amounts. Significant damage to roads and buildings is expected in Haiti, potentially isolating communities for an extended period.

Maximum sustained winds are near 110 km/h (70 mph) with higher gusts. Rapid intensification is expected to begin shortly. Melissa is expected to become a hurricane today and a major hurricane by Sunday. Tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 185 km (115 mi) from the center. Strong winds could also potentially last a day or more over the Tiburon Peninsula in Haiti.

According to the latest analysis from the Haiti Hydro-Meteorological Unit (UHM), gradual strengthening is expected today, followed by rapid intensification this weekend. Melissa is expected to strengthen into a hurricane this Saturday, October 25th, and a major hurricane on Sunday, October 26th, 2025. Consequently, the UHM, in conjunction with the General Directorate of Civil Protection and the Permanent Secretariat for Risk Management, is maintaining orange alert for the departments of the South, Southeast, Grand'Anse, Nippes, West, and the Central Plateau.

The Haitian Maritime and Navigation Service (SEMANAH) has prohibited all cabotage activities on Haiti's southern coastal zone until further notice due to heavy swells.

Civil Protection Advice :

The Departmental Directorate of Civil Protection calls on the entire population of the affected departments to remain vigilant during this period, as flooding and flooding may occur. The Directorate asks the public not to cross any waterways under any circumstances, not to tie up animals where the water could carry them away, not to stand on hills and bridges to observe flowing water, not to shelter from the rain under trees, not to stand barefoot in the rain, and not to touch any electrically conductive objects during a storm. Store your important documents in a safe place to prevent them from getting wet. Remember to keep an eye on people in need of assistance so they can move if necessary. Remain calm and listen to civil protection messages from reliable sources.

See also:

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46053-haiti-flash-melissa-promises-to-be-devastating-in-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46046-haiti-flash-melissa-risks-becoming-a-hurricane-5-departments-on-orange-alert.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46039-haiti-flash-storm-melissa-threatens-haiti-5-departments-on-yellow-alert.html

SL/ HaitiLibre