Tropical Storm Melissa forms in the Caribbean

Tropical Storm Melissa has formed in the Caribbean Sea, as of the 11 am update from the National Hurricane Center. Melissa is the 13th named storm of the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season.

Melissa has sustained winds of 50 mph and is moving west at 14 mph. The storm is moving over very warm waters.

This will help to fuel additional strengthening in the days to come.

Melissa could become a hurricane by later this week, but the official track from the National Hurricane Center keeps the storm in the Caribbean through this weekend.

The farther north this storm gets, the more wind shear it is expected to encounter. Wind shear can help to weaken tropical systems, but can also create uncertainty regarding strength and direction of a storm.

A Hurricane Watch has been issued for the southern peninsula of Haiti from the border with the Dominican Republic to Port-Au-Prince. The government of Jamaica has also issued a Tropical Storm Watch for the island.

While Melissa moves through the Caribbean, it will unleash flooding rains, strong winds, and rough surf for the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Cuba. By Friday alone, 5 to 10 inches of rain could fall in these areas. More rain is expected this weekend.

NOAA Hurricane Hunters are expected to fly into Melissa later today to get a better idea of the storms intensity.

Hurricane season lasts through November 30.

SEE ALSO: First Alert to Hurricane Season 2025