Tropical Storm Melissa has emerged in the central Caribbean Sea, with forecasts predicting its intensification into a hurricane by the weekend. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has confirmed the storm’s formation, citing satellite and radar data that reveal a well-defined center and sustained winds of up to 50 mph. As of Tuesday morning, Melissa was positioned approximately 300 miles south of Haiti. The NHC has issued warnings of significant flooding and dangerous mudslides for parts of the Dominican Republic and Haiti, with these risks persisting through the weekend. The storm is expected to gain strength steadily, fueled by the warm Caribbean waters, potentially reaching Category 1 hurricane status by Saturday morning. Currently, a hurricane watch is in effect for portions of Haiti, while Jamaica remains under a tropical storm watch. Puerto Rico is also anticipated to face heavy rainfall as Melissa progresses northward. This marks the 13th named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season and the first to originate in the Caribbean Sea.