As many federal agencies shutter amid the shutdown, NOAA can't close its doors, but it does have to halt some services.
Tropical Storm Melissa continues to spin in the Caribbean. At the same time, "life-threatening and catastrophic flash flooding and landslides" are expected over portions of Southern Hispaniola and Jamaica through the weekend, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The NHC said in a 8 a.m. ET advisory on Friday, Oct. 24, that Melissa was located about 260 miles southwest of Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph with higher gusts. It remains stationary in the Caribbean.
A hurricane watch is in effect for Jamaica and the southwestern peninsula of Haiti, from the country's shared border with the Dominican Republic to Port-Au-Prince. The peninsula, along with Jamaica, are also under a tropical storm warning.
Forecasters said Melissa is moving east-southeast at 1 mph. It is expected to slowly drift northeast and north later on Friday, Oct. 24. The storm will then drift westward on Saturday, Oct. 25, and continue through Monday, Oct. 27. By early next week, the storm is expected to move near or just south of Jamaica.
Melissa is forecasted to become a hurricane by Saturday and a major hurricane by Sunday, Oct. 26.
Tropical Storm Melissa could become a Category 5 hurricane
The storm could become one of the strongest storms of the season, according to AccuWeather.
"The exceptionally warm waters, reaching hundreds of feet deep, will act like jet fuel -- providing extra energy for Melissa," Alex DaSilva, an AccuWeather lead hurricane expert, said. "The warmest water in the Atlantic basin is in the central Caribbean, in the direct path of this storm. Rapid intensification into a Category 5 hurricane is not out of the question this weekend."
The storm could bring powerful winds that could damage buildings, knock over trees, and cause widespread power and communication outages.
'Life-threatening' conditions are expected across the Caribbean
Through Sunday night, Tropical Storm Melissa is expected to bring 8 to 14 inches of rain to the southern Dominican Republic, southern Haiti, and eastern Jamaica. Hurricane conditions will be possible in Haiti on Saturday and in Jamaica on late Saturday or early Sunday.
The northern Dominican Republic, northern Haiti, and western Jamaica are forecast to receive 3 to 5 inches of rain through Sunday night, and flooding impacts could increase across Jamaica in the coming week.
The southern Dominican Republic and eastern Jamaica are expected to face "life-threatening flash flooding and numerous landslides," according to the NHC. In southern Haiti, "catastrophic" flash flooding and landslides are also anticipated.
Tropical Storm Melissa path tracker
This 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.
Tropical Storm Melissa spaghetti models
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.
How do hurricanes form?
Hurricanes are born in the tropics, above warm water. Clusters of thunderstorms can develop over the ocean when water temperatures exceed 80 degrees. If conditions are right, the clusters swirl into a storm known as a tropical wave or tropical depression.
A tropical depression becomes a named tropical storm once its sustained wind speeds reach 39 mph. When its winds reach 74 mph, the storm officially becomes a hurricane.
Prepare now for hurricanes
Delaying potentially lifesaving preparations could mean waiting until it's too late. "Get your disaster supplies while the shelves are still stocked, and get that insurance checkup early, as flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period," the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recommends.
* Develop an evacuation plan. If you are at risk from hurricanes, you need an evacuation plan. Now is the time to begin planning where you would go and how you would get there.
* Assemble disaster supplies. Whether you're evacuating or sheltering in place, you're going to need supplies not just to get through the storm but for a possibly lengthy aftermath, NOAA said.
* Get an insurance checkup and document your possessions. Contact your insurance company or agent now and make sure you have enough insurance to repair or even replace your home and belongings. Remember, home and renters insurance don't cover flooding, so you'll need a separate policy for those. Flood insurance is available through your company, agent, or the National Flood Insurance Program.
* Create a family communication plan. NOAA says you should take the time now to write down a hurricane plan and share it with your family. Determine family meeting places and make sure to include an out-of-town location in case of evacuation.
* Strengthen your home. Now is the time to improve your home's ability to withstand hurricanes. Trim trees and install storm shutters, accordion shutters, and impact glass. Seal outside wall openings.
This story has been updated with new information.
Julia is a Trending reporter for USA TODAY and covers scientific studies and trending news. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com