The National Hurricane Center is keeping a close eye on Tropical Storm Melissa, which is expected to rapidly intensify into a major hurricane.

Tropical Storm Melissa is expected to undergo rapid intensification and grow into a powerful Category 4 hurricane by early next week.

According to the National Hurricane Center's 5 a.m. Tuesday advisory, Category 5 Hurricane Melissa is in the Caribbean Sea, 115 miles west-southwest of Kingston Jamaica and 290 miles southwest of Guantanamo Cuba. With maximum sustained winds of 175 mph, the hurricane is moving to the north-northeast at 5 mph.

The National Hurricane Center is tracking a tropical wave in the central Atlantic which is moving quickly toward the Caribbean. There also is a non-tropical system over the northwestern Atlantic — well away from Florida — that may develop into a tropical or subtropical storm over the next several days, according to AccuWeather.

The National Hurricane Center is monitoring three tropical waves: A far eastern Atlantic tropical wave is near 25W from the western Cabo Verde Islands southward, and moving west around 17 mph. Scattered moderate to isolated strong convection is found from 04N to 13N between 21W and 30W.

The National Hurricane Center warns that Hurricane Melissa poses a threat of catastrophic flash flooding and landslides in Jamaica, Cuba and Hispaniola

Tropical Storm Melissa is expected to strengthen into a hurricane and is forecast to become a major hurricane by early next week.

Subtropical Storm Karen was downgraded to a post-tropical low and Tropical Storm Jerry was bringing heavy rain and 60 mph winds as it moved north.