Haiti is expected to see catastrophic flash floods and landslides early next week causing “extensive infrastructural damage and potentially prolonged isolation of communities.” The southwestern peninsula of Haiti, from the border of the Dominican Republic to Port-au-Prince, was placed under a hurricane watch and a tropical-storm warning.

Forecasters warned of rapid intensification, with Melissa expected to reach hurricane strength later today and potentially major hurricane status by Sunday. The storm’s projected path shows Jamaica directly in its core wind field, with tropical-storm-force winds already extending up to 115 miles (185 km) from the center.

Melissa has the potential to be a devastating storm for several areas, including Jamaica, which could take a prolonged and direct hit early next week, when Melissa could be a major hurricane. Jamaica was under a hurricane warning on Saturday, and a tropical storm warning and hurricane watch continued for the southern part of Haiti.

US forecasters issued a hurricane warning for Jamaica on Saturday, meaning winds of at least 74 mph were expect in the area within 36 hours.

Melissa has already turned deadly across Haiti and the Dominican Republic, but AccuWeather meteorologists warn that the worst may be yet to come with the storm on track to intensify.

Hurricane conditions could last for three days straight in some places, AccuWeather lead hurricane expert Alex DaSilva warned.

Forecasters warn that Tropical Storm Melissa could bring destructive winds and over 30 inches of rain to Jamaica as the storm edges closer to the island.

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.