Tropical Storm Melissa is set to intensify this weekend, and Jamaica and other Caribbean islands are bracing for harsh weather, forecasters with the National Hurricane Center in Miami said Thursday morning.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is keeping a close eye on a tropical wave moving across the Atlantic Ocean.

A November tropical threat occurs roughly once every ten years, with the most recent strike taking place back in 2022 when Hurricane Nicole made landfall near Vero Beach on Florida’s east coast.

Recent satellite wind data indicate the tropical wave (Invest 98L) located over the eastern Caribbean Sea still lacks a closed circulation, but continues to produce a concentrated area of showers and thunderstorms.

Hurricane Melissa has often been described as a “monster hurricane.” In terms of intensity, that characterization is certainly accurate. However, when discussing a storm’s magnitude, it is important to distinguish between intensity and size.

The system is a tropical wave of low atmospheric pressure that’s centered over the eastern Caribbean Sea, producing thunderstorms and heavy rainfall.

Tropical Storm Melissa is still spinning in the central Caribbean and is expected to rapidly intensify into a major hurricane over the weekend. The threat for strong winds and heavy rain will be felt across Jamaica,