Hurricane Melissa had reached Category 4 strength by Sunday morning after undergoing rapid intensification the day before, and National Hurricane Center forecasters said the storm is expected to maintain much of its strength as it takes aim for Jamaica.

The slow-moving and erratic storm is to blame for at least four deaths in Haiti and the Dominican Republic but is not expected to threaten Louisiana or the Gulf Coast.

As of 10 a.m., Melissa was about 110 miles south of Kingston, Jamaica, inching across warm waters west at 3 mph. After forming as a Category 1 hurricane with sustained winds of 75 mph on Saturday afternoon, Melissa's wind speeds had increased to 140 mph by Sunday morning.

Rapid intensification is defined by the NHC as a 35 mph increase in sustained winds within 24 hours.

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