Tropical Storm Melissa could become hurricane this week, NHC says

Tropical Storm Melissa update: Could be major hurricane

Tropical Storm Melissa is slowly churning and gaining strength in the Caribbean. FOX35 Storm Team Meteorologist Laurel Blanchard breaks this and more down with FOX 35 News+ anchor Garrett Wymer.

Tropical Storm Melissa is dragging slowly in the Caribbean Sea, which could bring heavy rainfall and flooding to parts of Hispaniola and Jamaica, the National Hurricane Center said.

Where Melissa will ultimately end up is not easily predicted due to the slow-moving nature of the storm.

Where is Tropical Storm Melissa?

Tracking The Tropics:

Tropical Storm Melissa was about 320 miles south-southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and 300 miles southeast of Kingstom, Jamaica, the NHC said in its 8 p.m. update.

It was moving west-northwest at 2 mph. Sustained winds are 50 mph. 

Could Melissa become a hurricane?

The NHC said Melissa is expected to approach Jamaica and southwestern Haiti this week. Melissa is expected to strengthen and could become a Category 1 hurricane as early as Thursday.

Any Florida impacts?

There are no direct impacts to the U.S. or Florida by Melissa, according to the latest forecasts and the FOX 35 Storm Team. However, Melissa could bring some wave swells to parts of Florida's coastline.

Where is Tropical Storm Melissa heading?

Looking Ahead:

As Melissa's track is still unknown, any change in direction can also change those impacts.

Forecasters are currently considering three main scenarios for Hurricane Melissa over the next five to seven days.

The most likely scenario involves the storm staying sheared Thursday and Friday, missing an opportunity to move with an approaching cold front, then shifting west or even southwest of Jamaica this weekend. Under this scenario, the storm could rapidly intensify, with experts saying the "sky is the limit" for its potential strength. Melissa could then pose a major hurricane threat to parts of the Bahamas by the middle of next week.

A second, moderately possible scenario envisions a weaker hurricane that stalls or meanders near Jamaica, producing extreme rainfall and flooding before moving across eastern Cuba.

A third scenario, pushes Melissa over Cuba and Haiti before it heads into the open waters of the North Atlantic.