The National Hurricane Center is tracking a system in the Caribbean that could soon become Tropical Storm Melissa.

Tropical Storm Melissa has formed in the Caribbean.

The storm became the 13th named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season on Oct. 21. A typical year sees 14 storms, according to data from Colorado State University.

Melissa's current path will likely keep it away from the United States, according to forecasters, however a hurricane watch has been issued for the southern peninsula of Haiti from the border with the Dominican Republic to Port-Au-Prince, the National Hurricane Center said in an 11 a.m. ET advisory on Oct. 21. The government of Jamaica has also issued a tropical storm watch for the island, as forecasters said Melissa is expected to approach the southwestern portion of Haiti and Jamaica later this week.

The hurricane center said Melissa is located about 300 miles south of Port-Au-Prince with maximum sustained winds near 50 mph with higher gusts, with gradual strengthening expected during the next few days.

While the system could impact the Caribbean islands later this week or by the weekend, "none of our model guidance shows future Melissa posing any threat to Florida or the mainland U.S.," said WPLG-TV hurricane specialist Michael Lowry in a Substack post on Oct. 20.

"This is a concern for Caribbean interests – from Honduras and Nicaragua to parts of Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic – not us stateside in the U.S.," Lowry said.

Hurricane center forecasters said Melissa will bring heavy rainfall to Haiti and the Dominican Republic, with totals of 5 to 10 inches expected through Friday, Oct. 24, with additional heavy rainfall possible beyond Friday. Aruba, Puerto Rico and Jamaica could see 1 to 3 inches of rain through Oct. 24 as well.

Tropical Storm Melissa path tracker

This forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm. It does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts, and the center of the storm is likely to travel outside the cone up to 33% of the time.

Tropical Storm Melissa spaghetti models

Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center uses only the top four or five highest-performing models to help make its forecasts.

How do hurricanes form?

Hurricanes are born in the tropics, above warm water. Clusters of thunderstorms can develop over the ocean when water temperatures exceed 80 degrees. If conditions are right, the clusters swirl into a storm known as a tropical wave or tropical depression.

A tropical depression becomes a named tropical storm once its sustained wind speeds reach 39 mph. When its winds reach 74 mph, the storm officially becomes a hurricane.

Prepare now for hurricanes

Delaying potentially lifesaving preparations could mean waiting until it’s too late. "Get your disaster supplies while the shelves are still stocked, and get that insurance checkup early, as flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period," the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recommends.

  • Develop an evacuation plan. If you are at risk from hurricanes, you need an evacuation plan. Now is the time to begin planning where you would go and how you would get there.
  • Assemble disaster supplies. Whether you’re evacuating or sheltering in place, you’re going to need supplies not just to get through the storm but for a possibly lengthy aftermath, NOAA said.
  • Get an insurance checkup and document your possessions. Contact your insurance company or agent now and make sure you have enough insurance to repair or even replace your home and belongings. Remember, home and renters insurance don’t cover flooding, so you’ll need a separate policy for those. Flood insurance is available through your company, agent, or the National Flood Insurance Program.
  • Create a family communication plan. NOAA says you should take the time now to write down a hurricane plan and share it with your family. Determine family meeting places and make sure to include an out-of-town location in case of evacuation.
  • Strengthen your home. Now is the time to improve your home’s ability to withstand hurricanes. Trim trees and install storm shutters, accordion shutters, and impact glass. Seal outside wall openings.

This story has been updated to include new information.

Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tropical Storm Melissa has formed in the Caribbean. See where it's headed.

Reporting by Gabe Hauari and Doyle Rice, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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