Kingston, Jamaica — Hurricane Melissa made landfall Tuesday in Jamaica as a fearsome Category 5 storm . The most powerful hurricane to lash the island since record-keeping began 174 years ago and one of the strongest Atlantic storms ever recorded, Melissa struck Jamaica with sustained winds of 185 mph, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said.

The storm made landfall near New Hope, on the southwestern coast of the island nation, the center said.

Landslides, fallen trees and numerous power outages were already being reported earlier Tuesday as the hurricane made its approach, with officials cautioning that the damage assessment will be slow.

"For Jamaica, it will be the storm of the century for sure," said World Meteorological Organization tropical cyclone specialist Anne-Cla

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