"Tropical Storm Melissa is poised to devastate Jamaica and parts of Haiti this weekend as the slow-moving storm rapidly explodes into a major hurricane and dumps huge amounts of rain on the Caribbean islands. Some areas could see as much as 20 inches of rainfall in just a few days. With that depth, an Olympic swimming pool's worth of water would cover scarcely less than the area of a football field. Winds are the threat that is most associated with hurricanes, followed by storm surge."
"But rain is an often overlooked peril of such stormsand can be the most dangerous one. That was the case with 2017's Hurricane Harveywhich established the record for rainfall in a single storm in the continental U.S. when it dropped more than 48 inches of rain near Houstonand with last year's Hurricane Helenewhich dropped as much as two feet of rain in Appalachia just days after previous rainfall of approximately one foot in the region."
"As of the afternoon of October 23, Melissa is a tropical storm with a peak sustained wind speed of 45 miles per hour, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Hurricane Center, which is operating despite the now three-week-long, continuing shutdown of the federal government. The storm is expected to become a hurricane within 48 hours and to intensify to a major Category 3 hurricane by Sundayafter which it will perhaps top out as a Category 4 hurricane by Monday."
Tropical Storm Melissa is centered near the Caribbean and is forecast to rapidly intensify into a hurricane, reaching major Category 3 strength by Sunday and possibly Category 4 by Monday. The slow-moving storm will dump exceptionally heavy rainfall across Jamaica and parts of Haiti, with some areas potentially receiving as much as 20 inches in a few days, creating severe flood risk. Rainfall from hurricanes can be the deadliest hazard, as shown by Hurricane Harvey’s record 48+ inches near Houston and Hurricane Helene’s two-foot totals in Appalachia after earlier heavy rain. Meteorological agencies report sustained winds near 45 mph as the system organizes.
Read at www.scientificamerican.com
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