Tropical Storm Melissa has been gaining organization and intensity as it slowly moves across the central Caribbean Sea. According to the Meteorological Institute of Cuba, the storm has demonstrated improved structure overnight, with maximum sustained winds increasing to 110 kilometers per hour and central pressure dropping to 986 hectoPascals.
As of 6 AM today, the storm was located at 16.3 degrees North latitude and 75.0 degrees West longitude, roughly 270 kilometers southeast of Kingston, Jamaica. Its current trajectory is toward the northwest at a speed of 6 kilometers per hour.
In the next 24 hours, Melissa is projected to gradually shift its path to the west-northwest and west, moving slowly through the waters south of Jamaica. The storm is anticipated to continue strengthening and may reach hurricane status later today.
The Forecast Center at the Meteorological Institute is closely monitoring the development and future trajectory of this system, as it poses a potential threat to Cuban territory. An update regarding the tropical cyclone will be issued at 6 PM today.
