Melissa could become a Category 5 hurricane. If that wasn't enough, flooding and landslides could be widespread from Hispaniola to Jamaica and Cuba. Here's the very latest forecast.

Melissa, with maximum winds of 70 mph and stronger gusts, should attain hurricane status later Oct. 25 and become a major hurricane by Sunday, the National Hurricane Center said Saturday morning. A tropical storm becomes a hurricane when its winds reach 74 mph.

Article last updated: Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, 2 p.m. ET

According to the hurricane center, Melissa has a significant possibility of making landfall on Jamaica as a major hurricane and could maintain major hurricane strength when it reaches eastern Cuba. Forecasters say Melissa poses little to no risk for Florida and the U.S. at this time.

The hot ocean temperatures and dry air are primed for a potentially explosive hurricane to erupt, with some severe weather impacts possible for Florida.

Dozens of people were already in shelters in the Dominican Republic, and schools, businesses and government agencies were closed.

Tropical Storm Melissa is expected to bring days of heavy rain to the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Jamaica and may trigger life-threatening flash flooding, the National Hurricane Center says.

Tropical Storm Melissa is crawling through the Caribbean Sea, threatening to unleash life-threatening flooding and mudslides across parts of the Caribbean later this week. This year’s Atlantic hurricane season is not over yet, and Melissa has plenty of time and fuel ahead.