WASHINGTON — Hurricane Melissa, now a powerful, Category 5 storm, is forecast to be the strongest hurricane to make landfall in Jamaica since recordkeeping began 174 years ago.

According to the National Hurricane Center , it is bound to bring life-threatening winds, floods and storm surge.

Hours before the storm, the Jamaican government said it had done all it could to prepare as it warned of catastrophic damage.

As of 8 a.m. Eastern Tuesday, Melissa had gained strength as a Category 5 hurricane, centered about 55 miles south-southeast of Negril, Jamaica, and about 265 miles southwest of Guantánamo, Cuba, moving north, northeast at 5 mph, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.

After hitting Jamaica, Melissa also is expected to make landfall in eastern Cuba late

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