Tropical Storm Melissa prompts hurricane watch in Haiti

By JUDSON JONES

Tropical Storm Melissa formed Tuesday, the 13th named storm of the Atlantic season. It is expected to bring heavy rain to Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica by the end of the week, but forecasters with the National Hurricane Center said its path and intensity beyond the next few days are “quite uncertain.”

With the storm currently spinning close to the islands of the Caribbean, some tropical storm and hurricane watches have already been issued. The watches mean that hazardous conditions such as heavy rain and potentially flash flooding are possible in the coming days. They are often followed by warnings as the forecast becomes clearer.

This time of year is peak hurricane season in the Atlantic, and in recent weeks Gabrielle, Humberto and Imelda have all reached hurricane strength — though none have made landfall in the United States. Forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said they expected an above-average season this year, with up to 18 total named storms by the time it ends in November. A typical season has 14 named storms.

Weather service updates including hurricane forecasts continue as usual during a U.S. government shutdown because they are considered essential for public safety. But the weather service is already operating at reduced staffing after the Trump administration slashed the number of employees at many of the agencies traditionally responsible for planning for and responding to natural disasters.