AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva speaks on the recent development of a tropical wave that heads into the Caribbean with thunderstorms.
* Tropical Storm Melissa has formed in the Atlantic, becoming the 13th named storm of the season.
* The storm could strengthen into a hurricane as it moves through the warm waters of the Caribbean.
* Heavy rain and gusty winds are possible for the ABC Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Jamaica, and Cuba.
* Forecasters believe the chance of a direct U.S. hit is low, but impacts to the eastern U.S. are still possible.
Tropical Storm Melissa has formed in the Atlantic, becoming the 13th named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season.
AccuWeather said the system could strengthen into a hurricane as it moves through the extremely warm waters of the Caribbean.
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Forecasters said heavy rainfall and gusty winds are possible over portions of the ABC Islands over the next couple of days.
Residents and visitors in Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Jamaica and Cuba were advised to monitor the system since it could bring heavy rain and flooding, strong winds, and rough surf later this week.
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Special note about spaghetti models: Spaghetti model illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The Hurricane Center uses only the top four or five highest performing models to help make its forecasts.
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Where is Tropical Storm Melissa and where is it going?
Special note on the NHC cone: The forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm. It does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts, and the center of the storm is likely to travel outside the cone up to 33% of the time.
Could North Carolina feel impact from Tropical Storm Melissa?
Warm waters in the Caribbean make the area a region prime for tropical development, according to AccuWeather.
"While we think that the chances of a direct U.S. hit from this storm are low right now, it's still on the table should the tropical system make it into the western Caribbean," AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva said.
"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.
Forecasters encourage residents to monitor the tropics and to always be prepared.
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Brandi D. Addison covers weather across the United States as the Weather Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network.