The National Hurricane Center warns that Hurricane Melissa poses a threat of catastrophic flash flooding and landslides in Jamaica, Cuba and Hispaniola

Hurricane Melissa has made landfall in Jamaica. A Category 5 storm, it is one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes in history and could trigger a humanitarian disaster. Jamaica has never taken a hit from a Category 5,

Hurricane Melissa is set to pummel Jamaica as a catastrophic Category 5 storm, the strongest to lash the island since recordkeeping began 174 years ago

In the videos taken on Monday, Oct. 27, huge clusters of clouds swirl around the hurricane's "eye." At times, the clouds show bright white.

Hurricane Melissa is expected to crash into Jamaica with a strength reserved for a tiny percentage of Atlantic hurricanes. A hurricane reaching Category 4 or 5 strength is quite a feat in itself. The two categories combined make up about 17 percent of all hurricanes in recorded history.

KINGSTON/HAVANA (Reuters) -Hurricane Melissa began lashing Jamaica with violent gusts on Monday as the U.S. National Hurricane Center upgraded it to a Category 5 storm packing sustained winds of 165 mph,