Tropical Storm Melissa continued Thursday its slow push north in the Caribbean, expected to grow into a major hurricane as it nears Jamaica, but its long-term path including what effects it might have on Florida remain uncertain, according to the National Hurricane Center.

In the NHC’s 8 a.m. advisory, Melissa had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and was located about 215 miles southeast of Kingston, Jamaica and about 275 miles southwest of Port au Prince, Haiti moving northwest at 5 mph.

“A slow northwest or north motion is forecast during the next couple of days, followed by a westward turn over the weekend,” forecasters said. “On the forecast track, Melissa is expected to be nearer to Jamaica and the southwestern portion of Haiti during the next couple of days.”

A hurricane watch wa

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