Tropical Storm Melissa has formed in the Caribbean Sea, according to the National Hurricane Center. See where the storm is headed.

The scale of the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa is emerging, with dozens of people known to have died in Haiti and four deaths reported in Jamaica - and the storm is now approaching the Bahamas.

Tropical Storm Melissa is expected to strengthen into a hurricane this weekend and bring life-threatening impacts to millions.

Dozens of people were already in shelters in the Dominican Republic, and schools, businesses and government agencies were closed.

After lashing Jamaica with dangerous winds and flooding rain, Melissa made a second landfall in Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane on Wednesday morning. Melissa then moved through the Bahamas, and next, on Thursday night, the storm will pass Bermuda as a Category 1 or 2 hurricane.

A tropical storm watch remains in effect for Jamaica as Tropical Storm Melissa slows down over the Caribbean Sea south of Hispaniola. This means tropical storm conditions pose a possible threat to Jamaica within 48 hours.

Tropical Storm Melissa is plodding through the central Caribbean, with forecasters warning it could soon strengthen and brush past Jamaica as a powerful hurricane