Tropical Storm Melissa, currently traversing the Caribbean Sea, is projected to intensify into a major Category 4 hurricane by Monday, October 27, 2025. As of Wednesday, October 23, the storm was positioned 300 miles southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, with sustained winds of 50 mph and a sluggish movement speed of just 2 mph. The storm’s slow progression is already causing heavy rainfall, with up to a foot expected in southern Haiti and the Dominican Republic, raising concerns of catastrophic flash floods and landslides in the region’s mountainous areas. Meteorologists attribute Melissa’s rapid intensification to unusually warm ocean waters, predicting it will reach hurricane strength by Saturday. If it does, Melissa will mark the fifth hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season and the first to originate within the Caribbean. Two potential trajectories are being monitored: one where the storm strengthens south of Jamaica and another where it veers north toward Haiti or Jamaica. Both scenarios pose significant risks, including severe flooding, destructive winds, and widespread power outages. Currently, a hurricane watch is in effect for parts of Haiti, while Jamaica remains under a tropical storm watch. Authorities are urging residents in affected areas to prepare for potentially life-threatening conditions.