Tropical Storm Melissa is nearly stationary in the central Caribbean, with forecasters warning it could soon strengthen and brush past Jamaica as a powerful hurricane.

As Tropical Storm Melissa crawls through the Caribbean, it will strengthen to a hurricane and unleash torrential rain that may trigger major to extreme flooding and mudslides, endangering lives and property.

Invest 98L strengthened as expected into Tropical Storm Melissa Tuesday, Oct. 21. Further strengthening is expected.

Tropical Storm Melissa formed in the Caribbean Sea Tuesday and is expected to become the year’s fifth Atlantic hurricane early Saturday in southern Jamaica before rapidly intensifying into a Category 3 monster by early Monday in the western Caribbean, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Unlike other storms in this hurricane season, Melissa is likely to have a devastating effect on some of the most populated islands in the Caribbean.

Tropical Storm Melissa is set to intensify this weekend, and Jamaica and other Caribbean islands are bracing for harsh weather, forecasters with the National Hurricane Center in Miami said Thursday morning.

Hurricane Melissa, the strongest tropical cyclone of 2025, disrupts Caribbean travel, closing airports and causing widespread flight cancellations.