Tropical Storm Melissa formed in the Caribbean Sea on Tuesday and could become a hurricane later this week, forecasters said.

Melissa had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and was moving west-northwest at 7 mph about 305 miles south-southwest of Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

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A hurricane watch was issued for the southern peninsula of Haiti from the border with the Dominican Republic to Port-Au-Prince.

A tropical storm watch was also in effect for Jamaica.

Melissa was expected to turn to the northwest and north before approaching the southwestern portion of Haiti and Jamaica later this week, the NHC said.

National Hurricane Center National Hurricane Center

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