Tropical Storm Melissa is expected to rapidly intensify over the weekend into a Category 4 hurricane, and could get even stronger. Tropical Storm Melissa is expected to rapidly intensify over the weekend into a Category 4 hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Tropical Storm Melissa is expected to become a major hurricane over the weekend. The storm is currently located in the Caribbean and is not expected to directly hit Florida. Jamaica and Haiti are under hurricane and tropical storm watches and warnings.

Tropical Storm Melissa is expected to strengthen into a hurricane, threatening the northern Caribbean with massive rainfall and life-threatening flooding

Melissa is currently the only active tropical system in the Atlantic basin. As of Friday night, the storm remains nearly stationary, drifting north at just 2 mph. Maximum sustained winds are around 65 mph—just below the 75 mph threshold needed to reach Category 1 hurricane status.

The death toll from Hurricane Melissa has risen to 49 as those in the Caribbean begin recovering from the historic storm.

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.

Melissa’s 10-day run as a tropical cyclone – culminating in a catastrophic Category 5 strike on western Jamaica Tuesday – will end Friday as it transitions into a powerful non-tropical storm, clipping Atlantic Canada’s southern Avalon Peninsula tonight before heading swiftly out to sea.

AccuWeather forecasters say warm waters and a temporary lull in disruptive winds could support tropical development in the western Caribbean during the final month of the Atlantic hurricane season.