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The Caribbean is on high alert as Tropical Storm Melissa continues to strengthen while moving slowly through the region. Haitian artist Herve “Shabba” Antenor, a member of the popular Haitian band Ekip, recently took to social media urging his followers in Haiti and across the diaspora to stay informed, stay safe, and take the warnings seriously. His message comes as weather experts predict that the storm could bring dangerous conditions to the island over the coming days.
Melissa currently carries maximum sustained winds between 45 and 50 miles per hour (75 to 80 kilometers per hour). Though it remains classified as a tropical storm, forecasters warn that it could strengthen into a hurricane as it continues to move west-northwest through the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea. The storm’s slow movement, around 2 to 7 miles per hour, increases the risk of prolonged rainfall, flash flooding, and mudslides, especially in mountainous regions of Haiti.
Weather authorities have already issued a hurricane watch for southern Haiti, extending from the border with the Dominican Republic to the Port-au-Prince region. A tropical storm watch is also in effect for Jamaica as the system’s outer rainbands begin to affect nearby islands.
Meteorologists predict that southern Haiti could receive between 5 and 12 inches of rain, with isolated areas possibly seeing even higher totals. Heavy rain, combined with Haiti’s steep and deforested terrain, could trigger dangerous landslides and flash floods. These risks are compounded by poor drainage systems in many communities, making even moderate rainfall a potential disaster.
In addition to flooding, strong winds and high waves could strike coastal areas, particularly along the Tiburon Peninsula and other southern departments. The National Hurricane Center warns of storm surges and coastal flooding, which could damage homes, roads, and critical infrastructure.
Even though the center of the storm may not make direct landfall, its outer bands are expected to impact large portions of the country. These outer rainbands often contain gusty winds, localized flooding, and sudden downpours capable of washing away vehicles and small structures.
The threat of power outages, transportation disruptions, and food supply interruptions is also high. Many rural and low-lying communities remain particularly vulnerable, given Haiti’s limited emergency response resources and ongoing social instability.
Tropical Storm Melissa has already caused damage and claimed at least one life in the Caribbean. Reports confirm that an elderly man in Haiti lost his life due to flooding linked to the storm’s early bands, emphasizing just how serious this system could become.
If the storm strengthens as projected, Melissa could reach Category 1 hurricane status later this week or over the weekend. Warm sea temperatures, combined with relatively low wind shear, create ideal conditions for intensification. Experts are closely monitoring whether the storm will move closer to Haiti’s southern coastline or stay offshore, but both scenarios present serious threats to life and property.
For Haitians at home and abroad, the warnings are clear. Authorities advise residents in at-risk areas to:
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Move to higher ground if they live near rivers or coastal zones.
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Avoid driving during heavy rain or crossing flooded streets.
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Prepare emergency supplies including food, water, flashlights, and batteries.
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Follow updates from Haiti’s Civil Protection Agency and local news.
Artists and influencers like Shabba have been using their platforms to raise awareness, reminding fans that preparation saves lives. In his post, Shabba called on everyone in Haiti to take the alerts seriously and look out for one another. His message underscores the growing role of Haitian entertainers not only as cultural figures but as community voices during national emergencies.
As Tropical Storm Melissa continues to move through the Caribbean, it represents another test for a country that has endured so many crises. While the exact path may still shift, the dangers are real, and Haitians are once again being urged to prepare for the worst while hoping for the best.
OpaMusic.com will continue monitoring official weather reports and updates from the region. Readers are encouraged to stay tuned for the latest information and to support local relief efforts as the situation develops.
Ou deja wè atis ayisyen Herve “Shabba” Antenor nan gwoup popilè Ekip lan fè yon anons piblik sou siklòn sa a k ap pwoche Ayiti, epi men plis detay.
Karayib la an alèt pandan Tanpèt Twopikal Melissa ap kontinye pran fòs pandan li ap deplase dousman nan rejyon an. Atis ayisyen Herve “Shabba” Antenor, manm gwoup mizik popilè Ekip, fè yon videyo sou rezo sosyal pou ankouraje fanatik li yo ann Ayiti ak nan dyaspora a pou yo rete enfòme, rete vijilan, epi pran avètisman yo oserye. Mesaj li a vini nan menm moman ekspè meteyo ap prevwa kondisyon danjere k ap frape zile a nan jou k ap vini yo.
Melissa gen van soutni ant 45 ak 50 mil pa èdtan (75 a 80 kilomèt pa èdtan). Menm si li toujou klase kòm yon tanpèt twopikal, espesyalis yo avèti ke li kapab vin tounen yon siklòn pandan li kontinye deplase nan dlo cho lanmè Karayib la. Tanpèt la ap avanse a yon vitès ki trè dousman, apeprè 2 a 7 mil pa èdtan, sa ki ogmante risk pou lapli ki dire lontan, inondasyon, ak glisman tè, sitou nan zòn montay Ayiti yo.
Otorite meteyo yo deja bay yon avètisman siklòn pou sid Ayiti, depi bò fwontyè Repiblik Dominikèn rive jiska zòn Pòtoprens. Gen tou yon avètisman tanpèt twopikal pou Jamayik pandan bann lapli ekstèn tanpèt la ap kòmanse frape zile vwazen yo.
Syantis yo prevwa ke sid Ayiti kapab resevwa ant 5 ak 12 pous lapli, ak kèk zòn ki ka jwenn plis toujou. Lapli sa a, ansanm ak teren ki pant ak anpil deforestasyon, kapab lakoz gwo glisman tè ak inondasyon. Anpil kominote ki gen move drenaj kapab vin tounen zòn danje menm ak yon ti kantite lapli.
Anplis risk lapli a, gwo van ak vag lanmè kapab frape zòn kotyè yo, sitou nan Penensil Tiburon ak lòt depatman sid yo. Sant Obsèvasyon Siklòn Nasyonal la avèti sou monte lanmè ak inondasyon bò kot, ki kapab detwi kay, wout, ak enfrastrikti enpòtan.
Menm si sant tanpèt la pa ta frape Ayiti dirèkteman, bann lapli ekstèn li yo kapab afekte anpil pati nan peyi a. Bann ekstèn sa yo konn pote van fò, lapli entans, ak kouran dlo ki kapab pote machin ale oswa detwi ti konstriksyon.
Gen risk tou pou kouran elektrik koupe, transpò sispann, ak difikilte nan livrezon manje ak resous. Anpil zòn riral ak kominote ki deja vilnerab gen plis risk, sitou akòz feblès sistèm ijans peyi a ak enstabilite sosyal la.
Tanpèt Twopikal Melissa deja fè dega ak pran lavi omwen yon moun nan Karayib la. Rapò konfime yon granmoun aje ann Ayiti pèdi lavi li akoz inondasyon ki asosye ak bann lapli tanpèt la. Sa montre gravite sitiyasyon an.
Si tanpèt la kontinye ranfòse jan yo prevwa, Melissa kapab tounen yon siklòn kategori 1 nan fen semèn nan. Dlo lanmè a cho anpil, e kondisyon meteyo yo pèmèt fòs li ogmante. Ekspè yo ap suiv si tanpèt la pral pwoche plis bò sid Ayiti oswa rete nan lanmè, men nan toude ka yo gen gwo risk pou lavi ak byen pèp la.
Otorite yo konseye popilasyon an pran prekosyon depi kounye a:
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Moute nan zòn ki pi wo si w ap viv toupre rivyè oswa bò lanmè.
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Pa kondi pandan lapli ap tonbe oswa eseye travèse dlo k ap koule sou wout.
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Prepare manje, dlo, limyè, pil, ak medikaman davans.
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Suiv nouvèl ak avètisman ofisyèl nan men Pwoteksyon Sivil Ayiti ak medya lokal yo.
Atis tankou Shabba ap sèvi ak platfòm yo pou pote konsyans, raple fanatik yo ke prekosyon sove lavi. Nan mesaj li a, Shabba ankouraje tout Ayisyen pran avètisman an serye epi ede youn lòt. Mesaj li a montre wòl atis yo kòm vwa pèp la, pa sèlman nan mizik, men tou nan moman difisil peyi a ap viv.
Pandan Tanpèt Twopikal Melissa ap avanse nan Karayib la, li reprezante yon nouvo defi pou yon pèp ki deja fè fas ak anpil kriz. Menm si direksyon li kapab chanje, danje yo reyèl, e pèp Ayisyen an ankò ap bezwen prepare tèt li pou pi mal la pandan y ap espere pi byen an.
OpaMusic.com ap kontinye swiv nouvèl ofisyèl ak mizajou meteyo sou sitiyasyon an. N ap ankouraje tout moun rete enfòme epi sipòte efò sekou lokal yo pandan tanpèt la ap pwoche.
