SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - While pumpkins and costumes usually steal the spotlight this time of year, all eyes are now on Hurricane Melissa , a powerful storm building strength in the Caribbean. Meteorologists say it could become the most intense hurricane ever to strike Jamaica.

The storm formed just days before Halloween, adding an eerie twist to what could be a historic event for the island.

A monster is growing in the Caribbean

Melissa officially reached Category 1 strength Friday with sustained winds of 75 mph. It is crawling across the warm Caribbean Sea, sitting over water temperatures in the mid-80s with almost no wind shear. That combination is rocket fuel for hurricanes, and forecasters expect rapid intensification through the weekend.

Melissa could reach Category 4 intensity

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