India, Oct. 28 -- Melissa has intensified into a Category 5 storm and is moving rapidly towards Jamaica, where it is expected to unleash catastrophic flooding, landslides and widespread damage. It will be the strongest hurricane to hit the island since record-keeping began in 1851.

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.

Category 5 is the top of the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale, with sustained winds exceeding 157 mph (250 kph). Melissa would be the strongest hurricane in recorded history to directly hit the small Caribbean nation, said Jonathan Porter, chief meteorologist at AccuWeather.

The East Coast is likely to avoid Melissa. As th...