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

Hurricane Melissa strengthened into a major Category 4 hurricane, with the possibility of intensifying to a Category 5 storm Sunday night, unleashing torrential rain and threatening to cause catastrophic flooding in the northern Caribbean,

An intensifying Melissa is expected to bring destructive flooding to Jamaica, southern Haiti and the Dominican Republic before tracking toward Cuba next week.

Hurricane Melissa intensified to Category 5 strength Monday as it neared Jamaica. “Do not venture out of your safe shelter,” the National Hurricane Center warned.

Melissa intensified into a hurricane on Saturday, Oct. 25, as it continued its slow slog across the Caribbean Sea. Forecasters said the hurricane is expected to potentially power up to a Category 5 hurricane with winds up to 160 mph.

Melissa is now a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale, the U.S. Hurricane Center said on Saturday. The hurricane was located about 280 miles (450 km) from Port-au-Prince, Haiti,

Forecasters are warning residents of Jamaica to "seek shelter now," as Melissa, a Category 4 hurricane, was making its way toward the Caribbean island nation early Monday.