The erratic storm was expected to drop copious rain on Jamaica and the southern regions of Haiti and the Dominican Republic through the weekend.

Tropical Storm Melissa has begun churning in the Caribbean and is moving toward Haiti. At 2 p.m., Melissa was about 300 miles south of Port-au-Prince.

Tropical Storm Melissa was churning in the Caribbean early Wednesday, according to forecasters warning Hispaniola to expect heavy rains and flooding over the next few days.