Tropical Storm Melissa, which is churning in the Caribbean, may strengthen to a major hurricane by the time is lashes the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Jamaica this weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It appears Melissa will not pose a direct threat to the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here’s the latest forecast:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Melissa is starting to take a more northwesterly track, and if that continues, the storm will likely bring hurricane conditions to Jamaica beginning as early as Saturday and continuing through early next week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At this time, it appears Jamaica and Haiti will take the brunt of this storm at first, with Cuba seeing impacts by the middle of next week.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n High winds could reach Haiti and the Dominican Republic on Thursday and then Jamaica on Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The most destructive rain and winds are expected for southwest Haiti and Jamaica, while the Dominican Republic will see weaker winds but intense rain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Five to 10 inches of rain is forecast for southern Dominican Republic, Haiti and eastern Jamaica through Sunday. That heavy rainfall could spark life-threatening landslides, mudslides and flash flooding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n