KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — U.S. forecasters issued a hurricane warning for Jamaica as Tropical Storm Melissa threatened catastrophic flooding in the northern Caribbean.

A hurricane warning means winds of at least 74 mph (119 kph) are expected in the area within 36 hours.

The slow-moving storm was expected to drop torrential rain on Jamaica and the southern regions of Haiti and the Dominican Republic through Monday. Life-threatening flooding and landslides were possible, with up to 35 inches (89 centimeters) of catastrophic rain anticipated in southwestern Haiti.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — Tropical Storm Melissa neared hurricane strength Saturday and was expected to rapidly intensify this weekend, as forecasters warned of mas

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