The storm is stalled over water that’s record-hot – perfect fuel for a storm to explode in strength. A hurricane watch has been issued for parts of Haiti and a tropical storm watch is in effect for Jamaica.

Melissa is currently a slow-moving tropical storm that is expected to rapidly intensify to a major hurricane—a brutal combination will drench Jamaica and other Caribbean islands

Tropical Storm Melissa is set to intensify this weekend, and Jamaica and other Caribbean islands are bracing for harsh weather, forecasters with the National Hurricane Center in Miami said Thursday morning.