Hurricane Melissa, now a Category 5 storm, is forecast to bring life-threatening winds, flooding and storm surge to Jamaica.

Hurricane Melissa has strengthened into a Category 5 storm as it draws closer to Jamaica, where forecasters say it will unleash catastrophic flooding, landslides and widespread damage

As Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, heads toward Jamaica, Americans vacationing on the island are preparing to wait out the worst of the tropical storm.

At that strength, it would be the strongest hurricane to hit the island since record-keeping began in 1851. Blamed for six deaths in the northern Caribbean as it headed toward the island, Melissa was on track to make landfall Tuesday in Jamaica before coming ashore in Cuba later in the day and then heading toward the Bahamas.

Hurricane Melissa, now a powerful Category 5 storm with winds of 175 mph, will slam into Jamaica as the worst storm the island has ever seen. Here is Melissa’s forecast path: The catastrophic and life-threatening hurricane-force winds will begin in Jamaica on Monday night.

Hurricane Melissa has strengthened into a Category 5 storm and is forecast to bring destructive winds and storm surge and "catastrophic flooding" to Jamaica through the day, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Hurricane Melissa has strengthened to a Category 5 storm and is expected to produce catastrophic floods and heavy infrastructure damage in Jamaica. Flash floods are projected to sweep through Jamaica on Monday and into Tuesday with parts of the island expected to receive as much as 40 inches of rain,

Hurricane Melissa intensified to Category 5 strength Monday as it neared Jamaica, where forecasters said it would unleash catastrophic flooding, multiple landslides and extensive infrastructure damage.