Tropical Storm Melissa continued its slow slog across the Caribbean Sea on the morning of Oct. 25, and forecasters said the storm is expected to rapidly intensify over the next 24 hours, potentially powering up to a Category 4 or 5 hurricane with winds over 150 mph.
Melissa, with maximum winds of 70 mph and stronger gusts, should attain hurricane status later Oct. 25 and become a major hurricane by Sunday, the National Hurricane Center said Saturday morning. A tropical storm becomes a hurricane when its winds reach 74 mph.
According to Houston-based meteorologist Matt Lanza, "a damaging, severe hurricane with wide-ranging impacts in Haiti, Jamaica, and Cuba is likely."
The hurricane center warned that "life-threatening and catastrophic flash flooding and landslides are expected in portions of southern Hispaniola and Jamaica through the weekend."
A hurricane warning is in effect for all of Jamaica.
