WESH 2's award-winning First Warning Weather team is monitoring Tropical Storm Melissa, which is nearly stationary over the Caribbean Sea on Friday, according to the National Hurricane Center. The NHC said Air Force Reserve reconnaissance aircraft data show Melissa is getting stronger with maximum sustained winds now at 70 mph and a minimum central pressure of 986 mb.

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.

Tropical Storm Melissa could become a dangerous hurricane in the Caribbean over the coming days. Meanwhile, a long-duration lake-effect rain event is unfolding across the Great Lakes.

Invest 98L in the eastern Caribbean is expected to strengthen into a tropical depression or tropical storm over the next few days.

Tropical Storm Melissa formed late Tuesday morning about 300 miles south of Haiti over the central Caribbean but remains disorganized as it contends with persistent wind shear.

Melissa is forecast to bring extremely heavy rainfall to portions of southern Hispaniola and Jamaica through Tuesday, with totals of 15 to 25 inches expected. Some areas, especially the Tiburon Peninsula of Haiti, could see up to 35 inches of rain.

Invest 98L strengthened as expected into Tropical Storm Melissa Tuesday, Oct. 21. Further strengthening is expected.

Tropical Storm Melissa formed in the Caribbean Sea Tuesday and is expected to become the year’s fifth Atlantic hurricane early Saturday in southern Jamaica before rapidly intensifying into a Category 3 monster by early Monday in the western Caribbean, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Good morning! We’ve got a quiet and mainly dry Friday. A passing sprinkle is possible later today but not a big deal. Much cooler weather settles in for the weekend though. We’re also