TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)—Tropical Storm Melissa is expected to become a hurricane in a couple of days, the National Hurricane Center said.

Located about 240 miles south-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, Melissa is moving toward the west-northwest at about 3 mph.

Melissa is expected to move northwest or north over the next few days, followed by a westward turn over the weekend.

According to the NHC, Melissa is expected to be nearer to Jamaica and the southwestern part of Haiti during the next couple of days.

Maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph.

Little change in strength is expected during the next day or so, but significant strengthening is expected by late Friday and over the weekend, the NHC said.

Melissa is forecast to become a hurricane over the next couple of days.

A hurricane watch

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