Tropical Storm Melissa (2025) facts for kids
Melissa southeast of Jamaica on October 24
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| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | October 21, 2025 |
| Tropical storm | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
| Highest winds | 70 mph (110 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 986 mbar (hPa); 29.12 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 4+ |
| Injuries | 6+ |
| Missing | 1+ |
| Damage | Unknown |
| Areas affected | Windward Islands, Hispaniola, Jamaica |
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Part of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season |
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Tropical Storm Melissa is an active tropical cyclone, a powerful rotating storm, in the Caribbean Sea. It is currently a concern for the Greater Antilles. Melissa is the thirteenth named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. It began as a tropical wave, which is like a ripple in the atmosphere, first noticed on October 16. This wave started near West Africa and traveled across the central Atlantic Ocean. It then moved through the Windward Islands and quickly into the Caribbean Sea. The system then slowed down and became more organized. By October 21, it was strong enough to be called Tropical Storm Melissa. For a few days, Melissa moved slowly and a bit unevenly. This was because of weak steering currents and moderate winds that made it hard for the storm to get stronger.
As of October 24, Melissa's outer rainbands caused heavy flooding in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Sadly, these floods led to some injuries and a few people losing their lives.
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How Tropical Storm Melissa Formed and Grew
On October 16, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) started watching a weather system. This system was a tropical wave moving westward. It had the potential to grow into a storm. By October 19, this wave had moved through the Windward Islands and entered the Caribbean Sea.
The system first moved quickly westward. Then, it slowed down a lot. This gave it time to organize and form a clear center. It also developed strong convection, which means lots of rising warm, moist air forming thunderstorms. On October 21, it officially became Tropical Storm Melissa.
For the next couple of days, Melissa moved slowly and sometimes in an unpredictable way. It was over very warm waters in the central Caribbean. However, it could not get much stronger. This was due to westerly wind shear, which are winds blowing in different directions at different heights. Wind shear can tear a storm apart.
On October 23, the thunderstorms began to form more evenly around the storm's center. This showed that the wind shear was weakening. Melissa then started to get stronger on October 24. Its sustained winds reached about 65 miles per hour (105 km/h) by late afternoon.
Preparing for Melissa and Its Effects
Impacts on the Lesser Antilles
On October 18, officials in Martinique issued a yellow alert. This warning was given as the system that would become Melissa approached. On the same day, a flash flood warning was issued for Barbados. On October 19, Barbados's Grantley Adams International Airport experienced strong wind gusts of up to 45 mph (74 km/h) during heavy rain. Other islands also felt Melissa's effects. Saint Lucia had gusts up to 32 mph (52 km/h), and Martinique saw gusts up to 37 mph (61 km/h).
Impacts on the Leeward Antilles
The Prime Minister of Curaçao decided to close schools on the island. This was done to help emergency services work more easily during the storm.
Impacts on the Greater Antilles
On October 21, a hurricane watch was issued for southern parts of Haiti. At the same time, a tropical storm watch was put in place for Jamaica. By October 23, Jamaica's watch was upgraded to a hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning. Later that day, a tropical storm warning was also added for southern Haiti. A cruise ship, the Margaritaville at Sea Islander, changed its route. It skipped stops in Grand Cayman and Jamaica, heading instead to Belize and Honduras to avoid the storm.
Dominican Republic
In the Dominican Republic, four shelters were opened in cities like San Juan, San Cristobal, and the National District. About 61 people sought safety in these shelters. Twelve provinces were placed under a red alert, meaning there was a high risk of danger.
Heavy rainfall and flooding caused problems with the water supply for over 647,000 people. This included areas like Pedro Brand, Los Alcarrizos, and Santo Domingo Oeste. It was reported that 56 aqueducts, which are systems that carry water, were not working. A section of a road in María Trinidad Sánchez collapsed. The front of a hospital in Constanza also fell due to the rains, causing the hospital to stop its operations. Sadly, an older man died after being caught in floodwaters. A child in Los Mameyes was reported missing due to the heavy rainfall.
Haiti
In Haiti, sadly, three people lost their lives, and six others were injured because of Melissa. These unfortunate incidents included two people affected by a landslide near Port-au-Prince. Another person was hurt by a falling tree in Marigot. Five others were injured when a wall collapsed in the Artibonite Department.
Jamaica
Jamaica's Ministry of Transportation prepared for the storm by sending thirty buses. These buses were for emergency use in areas like Portmore, Spanish Town, Rockfort, and Montego Bay. The National Water Commission got its teams and equipment ready. The University of the West Indies asked its students in Mona to evacuate for safety. Sandy Gully in Saint Andrew was cleaned to remove silt and debris as the storm approached. This helped prevent worse flooding.
Cayman Islands
The Government of the Cayman Islands provided sandbags to its citizens. These are used to protect homes from floodwaters. Cayman Airways also allowed people to change their flights without extra fees because of Melissa's approach.
See also
In Spanish: Tormenta tropical Melissa (2025) para niños
- Weather of 2025
- Tropical cyclones in 2025
- Other storms named Melissa
