Melissa strengthens into a Category 4 hurricane, threatening catastrophic flooding in Jamaica, Haiti

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — Hurricane Melissa strengthened into a major Category 4 hurricane, with the possibility of intensifying to a Category 5 storm Sunday night, unleashing torrential rain and threatening to cause catastrophic flooding in the northern Caribbean, including Haiti and Jamaica, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

The weather agency added Melissa is likely to reach the southern coast of Jamaica Tuesday morning.