Tropical Storm Melissa is gaining strength over the Caribbean and could soon become a hurricane. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported that “the center of Tropical Storm Melissa was located near latitude 14.2° North and longitude 74.0° West,” about 325 miles south-southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The storm is moving west at 12 mph with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph.

Forecasters expect Melissa to slow down before turning north later this week, possibly reaching Jamaica and southwestern Haiti by Thursday or Friday. “Strengthening is expected,” and the storm could become a hurricane within 48 hours. Heavy rain and flooding are likely, with up to 10 inches possible in parts of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and 4–8 inches in Jamaica.

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for southwestern Haiti and a Tropical Storm Watch for Jamaica. While the Dominican Republic and Cuba are not under warnings, both remain within the storm’s projected path.

According to CNN, a direct hit on the U.S. mainland is “unlikely,” but Melissa could cause rough surf and rip currents along the East Coast. Experts warn that “late-season hurricanes are less common,” but storms like Nicole (2022) and Zeta (2020) show the risk remains until the season ends on November 30.