(TNS) Hurricane Melissa, now a Category 5 monster, began its northwest turn Monday evening, churning toward Jamaica with what will likely be the most powerful winds ever recorded on the Caribbean island.

Melissa, which also is expected to dump several feet of rain, has already been blamed for a handful of deaths in Haiti and Jamaica, and the toll will almost certainly rise. Damage is expected to be catastrophic as the hurricane slams into Jamaica’s south-central coast early Tuesday.

As of 5 p.m. Eastern time Monday, the National Hurricane Center found the hurricane had maximum sustained winds of 175 mph. The winds were so strong inside the eyewall of the storm that a NOAA Hurricane Hunter plane made the rare choice to head back early after experiencing severe turbulence.

“Get to the stu

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