Melissa, with maximum winds of 70 mph and stronger gusts, should attain hurricane status later Oct. 25 and become a major hurricane by Sunday, the National Hurricane Center said Saturday morning. A tropical storm becomes a hurricane when its winds reach 74 mph.

Tropical Storm Melissa has caused at least three deaths in Haiti and is forecast to intensify into a major hurricane by the end of the weekend.

NHC wrote, "There will likely be just enough mid-level ridging building north of the storm to cause Melissa to begin moving very slowly westward, with that motion continuing through Tuesday."