Jamaicans have been urged to take shelter as Hurricane Melissa continued to strengthen offshore.

Already a major Category 4 storm, Melissa was threatening on Monday to hit the Caribbean island nation hard. The slow pace at which it is moving, just 7 kilometres (4 miles) an hour, suggests that areas in the hurricane’s path could suffer extended punishing conditions and significant volumes of rainfall.

Melissa was centred about 205km (130 miles) south-southwest of Kingston, Jamaica, and about 495km (310 miles) south-southwest of Guantanamo, Cuba, on Sunday night. Landfall in Jamaica is not expected until late Monday or early Tuesday.

The hurricane could reach Category 5 strength on Monday with winds greater than 250 kilometres per hour (155 miles per hour) with maximum sustained winds of

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