TAMPA, Fla. - Hurricane Melissa strengthened into a powerful Category 5 hurricane early Monday morning as it tracked toward Jamaica.

According to the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Melissa had maximum sustained winds of 160 miles per hour as of 5 a.m. on Monday.

FOX 13 Meteorologist Dave Osterberg said Melissa was gaining latitude on Monday as it drifted west-northwest.

He said the storm will eventually move to the north, over Jamaica.

Osterberg added that hurricane-force winds extend about 30-40 miles out from the center of the storm. However, it is expected to dump 15-30 inches of rain on the island and produce a 10-14-foot storm surge.

He noted that the winds, with gusts of 100 miles per hour, will begin to arrive on Monday.

Osterberg expects the storm to make landfall

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