Tropical Storm Melissa is set to intensify this weekend, and Jamaica and other Caribbean islands are bracing for harsh weather, forecasters with the National Hurricane Center in Miami said Thursday morning.

Tropical Storm Melissa's forecast is filled with uncertainty, prompting some dire worst-case scenarios for Caribbean islands.

Tropical Storm Melissa could become a dangerous hurricane in the Caribbean over the coming days. Meanwhile, a long-duration lake-effect rain event is unfolding across the Great Lakes.

Local meteorologist Zack Fradella said Sunday that while late-season Caribbean storms can be intense, the system is not expected to reach the Gulf.