WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Tropical Storm Melissa, the 13th named storm of the season, formed Tuesday morning in the Caribbean with winds of 50 mph.
The National Hurricane Center said in its 5 p.m. advisory that a hurricane watch remains in effect for portions of Haiti.
WATCH BELOW: Tropical Storm Melissa forecast to become Cat.1 hurricane
TRACKING THE TROPICS: Hurricane Center | Hurricane Guide
The hurricane watch is in effect for the southern peninsula of Haiti from the border with the Dominican Republic to Port-au-Prince.
A tropical storm watch is also in effect for Jamaica.
Heavy rains are expected to spread toward Hispaniola during the next couple of days.
Melissa is moving toward the west at about 15 mph.
A decrease in forward speed and a gradual turn to the northwest and north is expected during the next few days.
On the forecast track, Melissa is expected to approach the southwestern portion of Haiti and Jamaica later this week, becoming a hurricane by late Friday.
Surface observations and satellite data indicate that the maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph with higher gusts.
Gradual strengthening is expected during the next few days; however, the system is expected to encounter wind shear.
"I think this will be a short-lived system as wind shear increases in the Gulf and Caribbean throughout the week," said WPTV First Alert Weather Meteorologist Frances Peyton.
The current computer models do not have the storm affecting Florida.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 115 miles from the center.
