AP Wire
  • Updated

Hurricane Melissa has intensified into a Category 5 storm as it draws closer to Jamaica, where forecasters say it will unleash catastrophic flooding, landslides and widespread damage. The intensification happened Monday. At that strength, the system would be the strongest hurricane to hit the island since record-keeping began in 1851. Melissa has been blamed for six deaths in the northern Caribbean as it heads toward the island. It was on track to make landfall Tuesday in Jamaica before coming ashore in Cuba later in the day and then heading toward the Bahamas. It was not expected to affect the United States.