According to Houston-based meteorologist Matt Lanza, "a damaging, severe hurricane with wide-ranging impacts in Haiti, Jamaica, and Cuba is likely."

Tropical Storm Melissa lumbered through the Caribbean Sea on Thursday, bringing a risk of dangerous landslides and life-threatening flooding to Jamaica and southern Hispaniola.

"The tropical cyclone is expected to grow in size, and likely be a large and dangerous hurricane towards the end of the forecast period," the National Hurricane Center said.