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As Jamaicans scramble to make last-minute preparations for the arrival of Tropical Storm Melissa, the Meteorological Service of Jamaica (Met Service) says the system has reformed, with its centre expected to move near or just south of Jamaica early next week.

With a tropical storm watch and hurricane warning still in effect, the Met Service says Melissa is currently drifting east-southeast at about 4 kilometres per hour. The storm is expected to make a slow turn to the northeast and then north later today, before swinging westward on Sunday -- a track that could bring it dangerously close to Jamaica through Monday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 75 km/h (45 mph), with higher gusts, and forecasters say the system could gradually strengthen over the next day before rapidly intensifying through the weekend. Melissa is projected to become a hurricane by Saturday and possibly a major Category 3 storm by Sunday.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 220 kilometres (140 miles) from the centre, meaning the effects could be felt across much of the island even if the storm's centre stays offshore.

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