Tropical Storm Melissa is gaining strength as it remains nearly stationary near Jamaica, the National Hurricane Center said Friday. Melissa is located about 345 miles southeast of Kingston, Jamaica. Maximum sustained winds are 65 mph.

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

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

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.

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.

Tropical Storm Melissa is expected to bring days of heavy rain to the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Jamaica and may trigger life-threatening flash flooding, the National Hurricane Center says.