Path of soon-to-be Hurricane Melissa.
Jamaica prepares for impact of Hurricane Melissa.

*UPDATE: Hurricane Melissa has formed since the publication of this post.

The National Hurricane Center announced Saturday that Tropical Storm Melissa was nearing hurricane strength and predicted “life-threatening and catastrophic flash flooding” in parts of Jamaica this weekend.

A Hurricane Warning has been issued for all of Jamaica, and a Hurricane Watch has been issued for portions of Haiti. (Hurricane warnings mean hurricane conditions are likely throughout warning areas.)

Jamaica, directly in Melissa’s path, is the red portion of the accompanying graphic, courtesy of the Florida-based National Hurricane Center.

On Saturday morning, Melissa boasted sustained winds of 70-86 mph. Winds of 74 mph and above are hurricane force.

Melissa is expected to become a hurricane sometime Saturday and become a major hurricane, with much stronger winds, early Sunday. The storm will make landfall on Jamaica as a major hurricane between Monday and Tuesday.

Folks in Jamaica are advised to seek shelter on higher ground and be prepared for torrential rains, widespread landslides, and ferocious tidal surges.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Dire warnings as Jamaica braces for impact of Hurricane Melissa

Reporting by Pete Thomas, For The Win / For The Win

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