Jamaica is staring down what could become a catastrophic, days-long assault of hurricane conditions as Melissa strengthens over some of the hottest ocean water on the planet. The storm’s outer bands are already brushing Jamaica and western Haiti,

Tropical Storm Melissa has begun dumping rain on Hispaniola as forecasters warned of a flood risk in parts of the Caribbean region this week.

At 8 a.m. Friday, the National Hurricane Center issued an advisory stating that Tropical Storm Melissa is in the Caribbean Sea, 155 miles southeast of Kingston Jamaica and 265 miles southwest of Port Au Prince Haiti. With maximum sustained winds of 45 mph, it is moving to the north at 2 mph.

MIAMI — Tropical Storm Melissa began dumping heavy rain on Hispaniola on Tuesday as forecasters warned of a significant flood risk in parts of the Caribbean region later this week.

Melissa had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph early Wednesday and was centered about 325 miles south-southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Tropical Storm Melissa is barely moving through the Caribbean, and that’s exactly what makes it so dangerous. The longer it lingers, the more rain it dumps. Haiti, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic could face days of relentless downpours and mudslides.