Melissa increased into a near hurricane and is forecast to rapidly intensify into a possible Category 5 through portions of southern Hispaniola and Jamaica.

The hot ocean temperatures and dry air are primed for a potentially explosive hurricane to erupt, with some severe weather impacts possible for Florida.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami warned of "life-threatening and catastrophic flash flooding and landslides" throughout Hispaniola.

An intensifying Melissa is expected to bring destructive flooding to Jamaica, southern Haiti and the Dominican Republic before tracking toward Cuba next week.

Dozens of people were already in shelters in the Dominican Republic, and schools, businesses and government agencies were closed.

Hurricane conditions could last for three days straight in some places, AccuWeather lead hurricane expert Alex DaSilva warned.

Tropical Storm Melissa has already turned deadly. As the storm strengthens throughout the weekend, we expect to see catastrophic impacts in the Caribbean. At least three people have been reported killed by landslides and falling trees in Haiti, while one person is dead and another is reported missing in the Dominican Republic.

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