Tropical Storm Melissa Poised to Become Major Category 4 Hurricane

Tropical Storm Melissa is slowly churning through the Caribbean Sea and is now forecast to become a major Category 4 hurricane by Monday. As of Wednesday, it was 300 miles southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, with 50 mph winds and moving at just 2 mph.

Heavy rain is already spreading north, with up to a foot expected in southern Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The slow-moving storm could trigger deadly flash floods and landslides across mountainous terrain.

Melissa is feeding off unusually warm waters and is expected to reach hurricane strength by Saturday. CNN meteorologists note that it would be the fifth hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season and the first to form inside the Caribbean.

Two scenarios are emerging: one where Melissa intensifies south of Jamaica, and another where it turns north toward Haiti or Jamaica. Both pose serious threats from flooding, wind, and power outages.

A hurricane watch is in effect for parts of Haiti, and Jamaica is under a tropical storm watch.