Hurricane Melissa is strengthening rapidly, threatening catastrophic flooding in northern Caribbean

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — Hurricane Melissa was strengthening rapidly late Saturday, threatening to become a major hurricane and cause catastrophic flooding in the northern Caribbean, including Haiti and Jamaica.

Melissa became a hurricane on Saturday, prompting U.S. forecasters to issue a hurricane warning for Jamaica, saying it could reach the island as a major storm early next week. Forecasters warned that Melissa could reach Category 4.