Hurricane Melissa has strengthened to a category 5 storm as it tracks towards Jamaica with destructive winds and storm surge, risking catastrophic flooding.
An update from the National Hurricane Center reported maximum sustained winds of 160mph (260 kph).
In a public advisory, the Miami-based forecasting authority states: “Melissa is a category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Some additional strengthening is forecast today, with fluctuations in intensity likely before Melissa makes landfall on Jamaica early Tuesday.”
It is expected to bring a “life-threatening storm surge”, “destructive hurricane conditions” and rainfall of 15 to 30in (38 to 76cm) to parts of Jamaica, and 40in (101cm) in some local areas.
“Catastrophic flash flooding and numerous landslides are likely,” the advisory adds.
Melissa was centred about 130 miles south-southwest of Jamaica’s capital, Kingston, and about 315 miles south-southwest of Guantanamo, Cuba.
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.
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