Melissa will likely intensify into a hurricane in a matter of hours. Once the storm has its structure in place, rapid intensification is forecast over the near-record warm water.

Here's a look at where Tropical Storm Melissa is, where it's headed and the impacts it could have in Sarasota.

Melissa is on track to rapidly strenghten Saturday, Oct. 25 and could become a major Category 5 hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center.

According to the hurricane center, Melissa has a significant possibility of making landfall on Jamaica as a major hurricane and could maintain major hurricane strength when it reaches eastern Cuba. Forecasters say Melissa poses little to no risk for Florida and the U.S. at this time.

Melissa has the potential to be a devastating storm for several areas, including Jamaica, which could take a prolonged and direct hit early next week, when Melissa could be a major hurricane. Jamaica was under a hurricane warning on Saturday, and a tropical storm warning and hurricane watch continued for the southern part of Haiti.

Tropical Storm Melissa is forecast to rapidly intensify into a major hurricane this weekend as it lashes Jamaica and parts of the northern Caribbean, bringing days of life-threatening, potentially catastrophic impacts.

Tropical Storm Melissa, set to become a major hurricane, threatens Jamaica and Haiti with deadly flooding, landslides, and multi-day winds.

Forecasters warn that Tropical Storm Melissa could bring destructive winds and over 30 inches of rain to Jamaica as the storm edges closer to the island.