The Category 5 storm which could bring up to one metre of rain to Jamaica is moving towards the Caribbean island at a worryingly slow pace.
Jamaicans have been urged to take shelter as Hurricane Melissa continued to strengthen offshore.
The hurricane, which on Monday intensified to a Category 5 storm, was threatening 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.
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