U.S. forecasters issued a hurricane warning for Jamaica Saturday as Storm Melissa reached hurricane strength, threatening 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.

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“Melissa has become a hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph,” the U.S. National Hurricane Center said Saturday afternoon. “Rapid intensification is expected, and Melissa is forecast to become a major hurricane tomorrow.”

The slow-moving st

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