Hurricane Melissa to hit Jamaica as a category 5 hurricane

Melissa is now a Category 5 hurricane with sustained winds of 260 km/h.

The storm will bring destructive winds and storm surge, and catastrophic flooding to Jamaica today and tonight.

The storm is moving at a snail's pace at 6 km/h.

Melissa is expected to move near or over Jamaica tonight and Tuesday, across southeastern Cuba Tuesday night, and across the southeastern Bahamas on Wednesday. The storm is expected to get stronger today.

Jamaica is already seeing tropical storm-force winds, and destructive hurricane conditions are expected to begin tonight or early Tuesday.

Melissa is expected to bring rainfall of 400 to 800 mm to portions of Jamaica and additional rainfall of 200 to 400 mm for southern Hispaniola through Wednesday. Eastern Cuba could see up to 250 to 350 mm of rain through Wednesday. Over the Southeast Bahamas, total rainfall of 100 to 200 mm is expected Tuesday into Wednesday, resulting in areas of flash flooding.

A life-threatening storm surge is likely along the south coast of Jamaica tonight and on Tuesday. Late Tuesday and Wednesday, there is a potential for significant storm surge along the southeast coast of Cuba.  Storm surge is possible in the southeastern Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands on Wednesday.

Swells generated by Melissa are expected to affect portions of Hispaniola, Jamaica, eastern Cuba, and the Cayman Islands during the next several days, and the Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and Bermuda later this week.

The Government of Canada is warning all Canadians to avoid all travel to Jamaica due to Hurricane Melissa.