Tropical Storm Melissa is likely to undergo rapid intensification and grow into a powerful Category 4 hurricane.

Melissa is expected to bring "life-threatening and catastrophic flash flooding and landslides" to Hispaniola and Jamaica through the weekend.

After savaging Jamaica as one of the most powerful hurricanes on record, swamping Haiti, Cuba and the Bahamas and skirting Bermuda, Hurricane Melissa is rapidly speeding out into the Atlantic and is expected to drop down into an extratropical cyclone later today, according to the latest update from the National Hurricane Center.

The NHC said in its advisory on the storm: "A Hurricane Watch has been issued for the southern peninsula of Haiti from the border with the Dominican Republic to Port-au-Prince. The government of Jamaica has issued a Tropical Storm Watch for the island."

Tropical Storm Melissa continues to keep forecasters guessing but predictions now call for rapid intensification into Category 4 hurricane.

Some travel plans in Central Florida are being altered due to Tropical Storm Melissa, which is expected to intensify into a hurricane.

"The chances of a direct U.S. hit from Melissa are low right now, but it is still an option, should the tropical system make it into the western Caribbean," said AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: See latest spaghetti models, projected path for Tropical Storm Melissa. Florida forecast Tropical Storm Melissa is beginning to strengthen and is " poised to intensify substantially over the next few days, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Tropical Storm Melissa could reach Category 5 as it rapidly intensifies, with forecasters warning of a potential 'humanitarian disaster' while impacts will be felt as far as Florida next week