Jamaica is bracing for what could be the most intense storm in its history as Hurricane Melissa rapidly approaches with powerful Category 5 winds. The hurricane is expected to gather speed and batter the Caribbean country with up to 76 centimetres (30 inches) of rain when it makes landfall on Tuesday.

Tropical Storm Melissa is inching closer to Jamaica and is expected to impact the island as early as Thursday. &nb

Hurricane Melissa, a devastating Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph as of Monday morning, Oct. 27, is nearing Jamaica.

A tropical storm warning and hurricane watch are now in effect for Jamaica as Tropical Storm Melissa moves slowly across the Caribbean Sea and closer to the island. It means tropical storm conditions pose a possible threat to the island within 36 hours and hurricane conditions are likely to pose a threat within 48 hours,

A hurricane warning remains in effect for Jamaica as Hurricane Melissa has further strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane.&n

Hurricane Melissa has hit Cuba after leaving a trail of destruction in Jamaica, though the full extent of its impact remains unclear. Watch and follow live below.

CNN, TVJ, COURTESY MATEO AVALLE PIBER, HURRICANE HUNTERS, WPLG By CNN meteorologists Mary Gilbert, Chris Dolce, Briana Waxman and CNN’s Sana Noor Haq, Billy Stockwell, Zoe Sottile, Charlotte Reck and Christian Edwards (CNN) – Hurricane Melissa now has sustained winds of 180 mph,

Hurricane Melissa made landfall on Jamaica Tuesday as the strongest storm to hit the Caribbean island since records were first kept 174 years ago. It is tied for the strongest Atlantic hurricane to ever hit land.

Before Hurricane Melissa hit on Oct. 28, the government expected Jamaica’s tourism industry to grow by 7% this winter season and was preparing to welcome an estimated 4.3 million visitors.