We’ll be discussing rapid intensification of tropical cyclones in this edition of Weather Tidbits. Rapid intensification refers to the quick strengthening of a tropical cyclone. Specifically, it’s when there is at least a 35 mph increase in the wind over a 24 hour period.

Tropical Storm Melissa is set to intensify this weekend, and Jamaica and other Caribbean islands are bracing for harsh weather, forecasters with the National Hurricane Center in Miami said Thursday morning.

The National Hurricane Center is keeping a close eye on Tropical Storm Melissa, which is expected to rapidly intensify into a major hurricane.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is keeping a close eye on a tropical wave moving across the Atlantic Ocean.

Jeff Penner says we have an increasing chance of rain Friday into the weekend and possibly early next week. He’s also tracking a slowly intensifying tropical system in the Caribbean Sea.

Here's a look at where Tropical Storm Melissa is, where it's headed and the impacts it could have in Sarasota.

Hurricane Melissa, which made a historic, catastrophic landfall in Jamaica as a Category 5 storm, hit Cuba Wednesday morning as a major hurricane. The storm is moving northeast and will continue across the southeastern Bahamas before approaching Bermuda later this week.

Betsy Kling explains how different types of low pressure systems form, comparing Hurricane Melissa to the Great Blizzard of 1978.

Category 5 Hurricane Melissa has made landfall already in Jamaica and Cuba, as one of the strongest hurricanes to ever make landfall.