Hurricane Melissa was set to pummel Jamaica on Tuesday as a catastrophic Category 5 storm, the strongest to lash the island since recordkeeping began 174 years ago. View 4 Images It is set to be historic for all the wrong reasons (Image: Handout, Getty Images)

Hurricane Melissa was poised to batter Jamaica later today as a devastating Category 5 storm , the most powerful to strike the island since records began 174 years ago. The tempest was anticipated to hit early Tuesday, carving a diagonal path across the island from St. Elizabeth parish in the south to St. Ann parish in the north, meteorologists warned. ‌

In the hours leading up to the hurricane's arrival, authorities confirmed they had exhausted all preparation efforts whilst bracing for catastrophic destruction.

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