Life-threatening storm surge is becoming more likely along the south coast of Jamaica later in the weekend or early next week. Peak storm surge heights could reach 9 to 13 feet above ground level, near and to the east of where the center of Melissa makes landfall. Large and destructive waves will accompany this storm surge.

U.S. forecasters issued a hurricane warning for Jamaica as Tropical Storm Melissa threatened catastrophic flooding in the northern Caribbean.

Catastrophic flash flooding and landslides are expected for Jamaica and Haiti, and possible for the Dominican Republic.