TRACKING THE TROPICS  Tropical Storm Melissa is expected to become a major hurricane as it moves closer to Jamaica and Hispaniola. See the latest track.

Tropical Storm Melissa is forecast to become a major Category 4 hurricane as it meanders throughout the Caribbean Sea, bringing heavy rains and potentially deadly flooding to some of the islands in that region.

Tropical Storm Melissa dumped heavy rain on parts of Haiti and the Dominican Republic on Wednesday as forecasters warned of a significant flood risk in parts of the northern Caribbean this week.

Melissa is forecast to become a hurricane by Saturday, Oct. 25, and a major hurricane by Sunday, Oct. 26, the Hurricane Center said. Current forecasts predict Melissa will be a Category 4 storm early next week. A major hurricane is one that is a Category 3 or higher, with maximum sustained winds of at least 111 mph.

Hurricane Melissa is expected to continue strengthening and become a Category 5 hurricane, according to the NHC, Saturday, Oct. 25.

Tropical Storm Melissa continued Thursday its slow push north in the Caribbean, expected to grow into a major hurricane as it nears Jamaica, but its long-term path including what effects it might

TRACKING THE TROPICS Tropical Storm Melissa formed on Tuesday in the Caribbean and is expected to become a hurricane by the weekend. Here's the latest track:

Melissa no longer possesses organized convection, and is now merging with a warm front extending eastward and a cold front extending toward the southwest. Therefore, Melissa is

Forecasters say a different storm system may develop into a tropical storm in the next few days and could take aim at the southeastern U.S. coast.

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.