Melissa strengthened into a Category 5 hurricane early Monday -- the most powerful a hurricane can get — and was forecast to bring "life-threatening and potentially catastrophic" Jamaica, the southern parts of Haiti and the Dominican Republic and to eastern Cuba over the next few days, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center warned.

Hurricanes get classified as major when their winds reach 111 mph, making them a Category 3, and as Category 5 — the top of the categories chart -- when their winds hit 157 mph. As of 5 a.m. Monday, Melissa was packing winds of 160 mph.

Hurricane Melissa, the 13th named storm of the Atlantic season, isn't expected to have major , but could turn out to be the strongest Atlantic system this season.

Melissa's forecast and path

As of 5 a.m. EDT Monday, Mel

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