Jamaica residents were warned Monday to "seek shelter now," as Melissa, a strong Category 5 hurricane, neared landfall on the Caribbean island nation.

Article last updated: Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, 11 a.m. ET

Only 81 hurricanes have struck as Category 4 or higher since 1851, or about one every other year on average. A couple have crippled multiple points at that strength. Irma, in 2017, managed to hit five countries as a Category 4 or 5 — the most of any storm in the Atlantic.

Tropical Storm Melissa is expected to rapidly intensify over the weekend into a Category 4 hurricane, and could get even stronger. Tropical Storm Melissa is expected to rapidly intensify over the weekend into a Category 4 hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center.