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

Melissa is expected to become a Category 5 hurricane by Sunday night, Oct. 26, and have catastrophic impacts on islands in the northern Caribbean.

Melissa is expected to bring "life-threatening and catastrophic flash flooding and landslides" to Hispaniola and Jamaica through the weekend.

Tropical Storm Melissa is expected to become a major hurricane by Monday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

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.

Melissa is expected to bring life-threatening and catastrophic flash flooding and landslides to Jamaica and southern Hispaniola through the weekend.

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"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.

Tropical Storm Melissa is expected to rapidly intensify over the weekend into a Category 4 hurricane, and could get even stronger. Tropical Storm Melissa is expected to rapidly intensify over the weekend into a Category 4 hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center.