Tropical Storm Melissa forms in the Atlantic. Maps show its forecast path.

Tropical Storm Melissa has formed in the Caribbean, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said Tuesday morning. 

Melissa, the 13th named storm in the Atlantic this year, is not expected to have major impacts on the mainland United States, but there is uncertainty on its path and intensity, the hurricane center said.

Here’s what to know about Tropical Storm Melissa. 

Tropical Storm Melissa forecast and path

As of Tuesday evening, the storm was about 305 miles south of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and moving west at about 15 mph, the hurricane center said. Maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph, according to the center, with tropical storm force winds extending outwards up to 140 miles from the center of the storm. 

Melissa was expected to bring “heavy rains” to Haiti and the Dominican Republic through at least Friday, the hurricane center forecast, with rainfall totals of up to 10 inches. 

Aruba, Puerto Rico and Jamaica could see up to 3 inches of rain through Friday, the hurricane center said. 

A gradual turn to the north and northwest is expected in the coming days, the agency said. The storm is expected to decrease in speed and may linger over the Caribbean thanks to weakening steering currents.

A spaghetti model shows multiple options for Melissa’s longer path. Many versions of the model show the storm passing over Haiti, though it’s also possible Melissa travels over Cuba or turns toward Central America.

The storm may stall near Haiti and Jamaica as a Category 1 hurricane. A hurricane watch has been issued for the southern coast and Tiburon peninsula of Haiti, while a tropical storm watch has been issued for Jamaica, the hurricane center said.

In addition to heavy rainfall, the storm is expected to bring the risk of significant flash flooding to portions of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, with the danger of landslides, the hurricane center reported.

Preparations to “protect life and property” should be complete by Thursday, the agency said.

There is still “significant uncertainty in the track and intensity forecast” of the storm, the hurricane center said. More than half of computer models show the storm turning to the west, while many still show it heading north. If the storm turns west, it may impact the Gulf.

Hispaniola — which includes Haiti and the Dominican Republican — along with Cuba, should continue to monitor forecasts, the agency said.

Will Tropical Storm Melissa impact the U.S.? 

Tropical Storm Melissa is currently unlikely to impact the mainland United States.

The spaghetti model for the storm does not show it approaching South Florida or the rest of the U.S. mainland as of now. The storm also looks unlikely to strongly impact the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.