ISTANBUL

A severe weather event could impact Jamaica, southern Haiti, and Cuba early next week, as the slow-moving tropical storm Melissa is expected to intensify quickly into a major hurricane by Sunday.

The storm could represent a worst-case scenario for Jamaica as it approaches over the weekend, potentially making landfall late Monday or early Tuesday, The Washington Post reported.

Its slow movement could bring prolonged, potentially catastrophic rainfall, with 20 to 40 inches possible in the hardest-hit areas. Tornadoes may also form within the spiral rainbands moving ashore on Monday.

Hurricane-force winds and a life-threatening storm surge of 5 to 10 feet could hit as Melissa’s core makes landfall, likely affecting eastern Jamaica the most, including the capital, Kingston. A hurricane warning has been issued for the entire country.

Hurricane and tropical storm alerts have been issued for the southwestern peninsula of Haiti, encompassing Port-au-Prince.

The National Hurricane Center warned Saturday morning that “Melissa’s slow movement will bring a multi-day period of damaging winds and heavy rainfall beginning Saturday night, likely causing catastrophic flash flooding and numerous landslides."

"There is an increasing risk of life-threatening storm surge early next week. All preparations should be completed today," the center added.

As heavy rain began falling, a landslide near Haiti’s capital on Thursday killed two people and injured another, raising the storm-related death toll to at least three, according to Haiti’s Civil Protection Agency.

In the central Artibonite department, runoff caused a wall to collapse, injuring five people, including a 14-year-old girl who was seriously hurt, the agency reported.

Residents were preparing for further impacts.