By early next week, we might be talking about a Category 5 hurricane, but widespread flooding is going to be the most impactful threat from Melissa. Here's how bad it could get in Haiti and Jamaica.

By early next week, we might be talking about a Category 5 hurricane, but widespread flooding is going to be the most impactful threat from Melissa. Here's how bad it could get in Haiti and Jamaica.

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.

The slow-moving storm is expected to bring heavy rainfall and life-threatening flash flooding and landslides to parts of Jamaica and Haiti, forecasters say.

Though the full effects of Tropical Storm Melissa have yet to be felt in the Caribbean, Haiti’s disaster office said Friday three people have already died and another was injured in a landslide attributed to the storm’s heavy rains.