Jamaica is bracing for possibly its worst hurricane in recorded history, as Category 5 Hurricane Melissa is expected to make landfall on the island's southern coast on Tuesday, Oct. 28, before approaching Cuba and the Bahamas.

Jamaican officials are evacuating parts of its capital, closing airports and opening hundreds of shelters in preparation for the storm, which the National Hurricane Center forecasts will bring "catastrophic and life-threatening winds, flooding, and storm surge" beginning Monday night, Oct. 28, and early Tuesday, Oct. 29.

According to the latest advisory from the NHC, Melissa was located about 145 miles southwest of Kingston, Jamaica, with maximum sustained winds near 165 mph with higher gusts. On the forecast track, the hurricane center said the core of Melissa is expected to move near or over Jamaica tonight and Tuesday, Oct. 28, across southeastern Cuba Tuesday night, and across the southeastern Bahamas on Wednesday, Oct. 29.

While Melissa has already reached Category 5 status, forecasters said some additional strengthening is forecast Oct. 27, with "fluctuations in intensity" likely before Melissa makes landfall on Jamaica early Tuesday, Oct. 28.

"Melissa is expected to reach Jamaica and southeastern Cuba as a powerful major hurricane, and will still be at hurricane strength when it moves across the southeastern Bahamas," forecasters said in the advisory.

The storm could drop 40 inches of rain over Jamaica and slam its southern coast with storm surge over 10 feet, leading to catastrophic flooding on the coasts and well inland.

"Do not venture out of your safe shelter," the hurricane center warned residents. "Catastrophic and life-threatening flash flooding and numerous landslides are likely today through Tuesday."

See more photos of the hurricane preparation

Contributing: Christopher Cann & Doyle Rice, USA TODAY

Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Photos show Jamaica bracing for Hurricane Melissa's impact

Reporting by Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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