BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ( WBRC ) - HURRICANE MELISSA : One of the most powerful hurricanes on record is about to strike Jamaica.

Melissa has grown into a powerful Category 5, with maximum sustained winds of 175 mph, with gusts as high as 200 mph. This is as powerful as it gets when it comes to tropical cyclones. The central pressure at the last check was down to 906 MB. Only six systems on record in the Atlantic had pressure levels below 900 MB and pressure levels with Melissa may continue to deepen.

The hurricane will cross Jamaica overnight and through Tuesday, with 9-foot to 13-foot storm surge and rain totals as high as 40 inches.

The system will then cross eastern Cuba and later track across the southern Bahamas and Turks and Caicos, before moving out over the Atlantic.

The upper tro

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