Hurricane Melissa is slamming eastern Cuba on Wednesday morning, Oct. 29, after hammering Jamaica on Tuesday and causing widespread damage.

"The chances of a direct U.S. hit from Melissa are low right now, but it is still an option, should the tropical system make it into the western Caribbean," said AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva.

Melissa’s track is very uncertain, though, and the hurricane center warned that “significant” adjustments to the storm’s path are possible. The storm still could bring a considerable risk of heavy rain and flooding to parts of Hispaniola.

Melissa is forecast to become a hurricane by Saturday, Oct. 25, and a major hurricane by Sunday, Oct. 26, the Hurricane Center said. Current forecasts predict Melissa will be a Category 4 storm early next week. A major hurricane is one that is a Category 3 or higher, with maximum sustained winds of at least 111 mph.

Tropical Storm Melissa formed in the Caribbean Sea Tuesday and is expected to become the year’s fifth Atlantic hurricane early Saturday in southern Jamaica before rapidly intensifying into a Category 3 monster by early Monday in the western Caribbean, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Tropical Storm Melissa is predicted to develop into a hurricane this week, but where the storm is headed is still uncertain, according to the National Hurricane Center 's Oct. 22 forecast. Heavy rain and flooding from Melissa are expected for portions of Hispaniola and Jamaica through the weekend.

"Strong westerly winds, driven by the jet stream, should prevent the storm from tracking into Texas, Louisiana and the panhandles of Mississippi, Alabama and Florida next week," according to AccuWeather. Forecasters encourage residents to monitor the tropics and to always be prepared.

Hurricane Melissa tore a path of destruction across Jamaica on Tuesday, prompting the prime minister to declare the country a disaster area, after the storm made landfall as a Cat

"Historically, tropical systems that reach the western Caribbean in October are more likely to be steered away from places like Texas and Louisiana. But the eastern United States, and Florida in particular, can still be impacted by intense storms," AccuWeather said.