Melissa could progress to a Category 5 storm -- with sustained winds up to 160 mph -- before it makes landfall. The hurricane could be the strongest to impact Jamaica in more than 35 years, since the Category 4 Hurricane Gilbert hit the island in 1988.

Hurricane Melissa has developed into a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of up to 220 kilometres per hour and is expected to strengthen as it heads towards Jamaica.

Catastrophic flash flooding and landslides are expected for Jamaica and Haiti, and possible for the Dominican Republic.