Hurricane Melissa rapidly strengthened into a major Category 4 hurricane as it unleashed torrential rain in the northern Caribbean and threatened catastrophic flooding and landslides in Jamaica and southern Haiti .

U.S. forecasters warned that the slow-moving Melissa is expected to strengthen further and be a major hurricane when making landfall in Jamaica early next week. It should be near or over Cuba by the middle of the week.

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“I urge Jamaicans to take this weather threat seriously,” said Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness. “Take all measures to protect yourself.”

Melissa was centered about 120 miles south-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, and about 280 miles south-southwest of Guantanamo, Cuba, early S

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