Hurricane Melissa strengthens into a strong Category 4 storm in the Caribbean. Maps show the forecast path.

Melissa quickly strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane on Sunday and was predicted to bring “life-threatening and catastrophic” consequences. Flash floods and landslides The Miami-based National Hurricane Center warned that it would hit Jamaica and southern parts of Haiti and the Dominican Republic in the next few days.

Hurricane Melissa, the 13th named storm of the Atlantic season, is not expected to become major Impact on the mainland United Statesbut it might be the strongest system this season.

Melissa’s prognosis and path

As of late Sunday afternoon, Melissa’s core was located about 115 miles south-southwest of Kingston, Jamaica, and about 290 miles south-southwest of Guantanamo, Cuba. the hurricane center said. Maximum sustained winds were 145 mph, with hurricane-force winds extending about 30 miles from the storm’s center and tropical-storm-force winds extending 205 miles. It was moving slowly westward at 5 miles per hour.

Melissa is now considered a major hurricane, defined as Category 3 or higherwith wind speeds of at least 111 miles per hour. It was forecast to remain a major hurricane when it hits Jamaica later this week, the hurricane center said.

It was forecast to move near or over Jamaica over the weekend through Tuesday, over southeastern Cuba by Tuesday night, and then over southeastern Bahamas by midweek. If Melissa makes landfall, the peak of the storm surge, accompanied by destructive waves, could reach heights of 9 to 13 feet above the ground, according to the NHC.

Melissa could be the strongest hurricane to hit Jamaica, says CBS News Philadelphia meteorologist Andrew Kozak said Saturday.

“The terrain of the island makes it worse,” Kozak said. “Jamaica’s mountains force the air to rise, which creates more rain.”

The strongest hurricane to hit Jamaica was Gilbert in 1988, Kozak said, which killed 45 people and caused over $700 million in damage.

Jamaica, Haiti and eastern Cuba should brace for “catastrophic rainfall of up to three feet of rainfall,” CBS News weather anchor Lonnie Quinn said Friday. “Mountainous terrain – there will be mudslides. I’m worried about what we’ll find in this part of the Caribbean by next week.”

Additionally, he warned, the storm could bring winds of 140 miles per hour.

“I think Jamaica will endure the worst,” Quinn said.

Hurricane warnings

A hurricane warning was in effect for Jamaica. A hurricane warning and a tropical storm warning were in effect for the southwestern peninsula of Haiti, from the border with the Dominican Republic to Port-au-Prince.

A hurricane warning was also in effect for the Cuban provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo and Holguin. The Cuban government has also issued a tropical storm warning for the Cuban province of Las Tunas.

Naval Station Guantanamo Bay said it had dispersed “non-mission-relevant” U.S. citizens in groups from the island ahead of severe weather in Melissa. The broadcaster announced on social media that they would all be evacuated by Sunday morning at the latest.

“Each person is allowed one 40-pound bag and one carry-on item,” the station’s Facebook post said. “Stand ready for further instructions as to when your zone will be called to the windjammer for orders.”

Precipitation forecasts

Melissa is expected to drop up to 30 inches of rain in parts of southern Haiti, the southern Dominican Republic and Jamaica through Tuesday, with higher amounts possible in some areas, the hurricane center said. Eastern Cuba could see up to 18 inches of rain.

“Catastrophic flash flooding and landslides are likely in parts of southern Hispaniola and Jamaica,” forecasters said. Hispaniola is an island that includes Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

According to the hurricane center, additional heavy rainfall is likely beyond Tuesday, but there remains uncertainty about the longer forecast.

Nikki Nolan And

Rob Marciano

contributed to this report.