As Tropical Storm Melissa crawls through the Caribbean, it will strengthen to a hurricane and unleash torrential rain that may trigger major to extreme flooding and mudslides, endangering lives and property.

Hurricane Melissa is now a Category 5 storm, capable of dumping catastrophic rainfall in addition to the powerful winds it's packing. The monster storm has begun to impact Jamaica, Cuba and Haiti, and it's expected to cause life-threatening problems for days during its slow crawl through the Caribbean.

Florida residents should keep a close eye on Tropical Storm Melissa, which is expected to strengthen into a powerful Category 4 hurricane, although current predictions for a Florida impact are low.

Tropical Storm Melissa continues to keep forecasters guessing but predictions now call for rapid intensification into Category 4 hurricane.

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

Why meteorologists are so concerned about Tropical Storm Melissa when it becomes a hurricane near Jamaica, Haiti, the Cayman Islands, and Cuba.

The hot ocean temperatures and dry air are primed for a potentially explosive hurricane to erupt, with some severe weather impacts possible for Florida.