Heavy rain is expected across Jamaica, where "precipitation totals from multiple models suggest that storm totals exceeding 24 inches and localized amounts above 30 inches are quite possible," noted meteorologists Bob Henson and Jeff Masters in their blog Eye on the Storm.

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,

Although Jamaica has been hit by many hurricanes, a storm stronger than Category 3 has never made landfall on the island.

Tropical Storm Melissa is forecast to grow into a major Category 4 hurricane as it threatens Jamaica and then Cuba, but its effects on Florida remain uncertain, according to the National Hurricane

Melissa is expected to significantly strengthen by late Friday and over the weekend, when the storm could become a hurricane as early as Saturday.

An intensifying Melissa will bring destructive flooding to Jamaica, southern Haiti and the Dominican Republic before tracking toward Cuba, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Bahamas next week.

Melissa is currently a slow-moving tropical storm that is expected to rapidly intensify to a major hurricane—a brutal combination will drench Jamaica and other Caribbean islands

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.

Canada has issued a serious travel warning advising Canadians to avoid travelling to Jamaica due to safety issues.