Cuba’s National Civil Defense Headquarters has issued an early warning as Tropical Storm Melissa threatens to approach the island’s eastern and central regions. Authorities urged residents to closely monitor the storm’s path and stay informed with continuous updates.

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According to the Cuban Institute of Meteorology (Insmet), Melissa is currently producing maximum sustained winds of 85 km/h, with higher gusts, and has a central pressure of 1,000 hectopascals. The storm is moving slowly west-northwest at 4 km/h, located approximately 510 km south of Kingston, Jamaica, at 14.3°N latitude and 74.0°W longitude.

Civil Defense officials advised coordinating with Disaster Risk Reduction centers, prioritizing areas that are hard to reach, to ensure community safety.

The United States National Hurricane Center (NHC) has also highlighted the potential for the storm to strengthen due to favorable oceanic and atmospheric conditions, warning that Melissa could pose significant risks to the Caribbean.

Melissa’s slow movement means the storm could bring an extended period of strong winds to Jamaica and Haiti’s Tiburon Peninsula, with effects expected to begin Thursday or Friday and intensify over the weekend.

Authorities continue to monitor the storm closely and have urged residents to remain vigilant, follow official guidance, and prepare for possible severe weather conditions.

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