Tropical Storm Melissa is heading across the Caribbean as forecasters warn it will quickly intensify

Tropical Storm Melissa slammed into the central Caribbean early Friday, and forecasters warned it could soon strengthen and overtake Jamaica as a powerful hurricane while causing potentially “catastrophic” flooding and landslides in southern Haiti.

The slow and erratic storm is expected to bring heavy rains to Jamaica and the southern regions of Haiti and the Dominican Republic over the weekend.

“Rainfall poses a significant risk with the storm,” said Michael Brennan, director of the US National Hurricane Center in Miami. “Historically, rainfall has been the largest cause of loss of life from tropical storms and hurricanes in the Caribbean.”

The slow-moving storm was centered about 155 miles southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, and about 265 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

The US National Center said that the maximum wind speed was 45 miles per hour and it was moving north at 2 miles per hour.

A hurricane warning and tropical storm warning have been issued for Jamaica and the southwestern peninsula of Haiti.

Melissa was expected to begin slowly approaching Jamaica over the weekend. It is expected to become a hurricane by Saturday and then become a major hurricane by the end of the weekend, possibly reaching Category 4 status by Tuesday.

Forecasters said Jamaica’s eastern region could receive up to 14 inches of rain, which could lead to flooding and landslides, because the ground is already saturated from recent heavy rains unrelated to the storm.

Schools, health centers and government offices were closed across Jamaica on Thursday, and authorities warned that all airports would close within 24 hours if a hurricane warning was issued.

“The situation is really dangerous,” said Matthew Samuda, Jamaica’s Minister of Economic Growth and Job Creation, warning people not to be fooled by the current pace and strength of the storm. “Be very careful, because it can change at any moment.”

Up to 14 inches of rain is also expected in southern Haiti and the southern Dominican Republic, with higher amounts possible through Sunday.

Authorities said Melissa was responsible for the death of one person in southern Haiti, and the injury of five other people in the central region of the country in floods.

The United Nations announced Thursday that it is preparing more than 100 emergency shelters in the southern region of Haiti.

The storm also destroyed dozens of water supply systems in the neighboring Dominican Republic, affecting more than half a million customers.

It also downed trees and traffic lights and caused two small landslides.

All public schools across the Dominican Republic will close on Friday, while government offices in 12 provinces under a state of alert will do the same, officials said.

“This is an event that we must follow minute by minute,” said Juan Manuel Méndez Garcia, director of emergency operations for the Dominican Republic. He pointed out that evacuations in areas under alert are mandatory.

Melissa is the 13th storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, and the first named storm to form in the Caribbean this year.

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted an above-normal season with between 13 and 18 named storms. Five to nine of these hurricanes, including two to five major hurricanes, are expected to become hurricanes, packing winds of 111 mph or greater.

The hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean extends from June 1 to November 30.