Hurricane Melissa has strengthened into a Category 5 storm and is forecast to bring destructive winds and storm surge and "catastrophic flooding" to Jamaica through the day, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The hurricane center said in a 5 a.m. ET advisory on Oct. 27 Melissa was located about 130 miles south-southwest of Kingston, Jamaica with maximum sustained winds near 160 mph with higher gusts. Jamaican officials have evacuated low-lying areas and opened hundreds of shelters in preparation of "life-threatening" storm conditions.

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