Hurricane Melissa strengthened into a major Category 4 hurricane, with the possibility of intensifying to a Category 5 storm Sunday night, unleashing torrential rain and threatening to cause catastrophic flooding in the northern Caribbean,

Tropical Storm Melissa has become a hurricane and is expected to strengthen into at least Category 4 intensity, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said on Saturday. The rapidly intensifying storm is expected to wreak havoc across the Caribbean with catastrophic floods,

Melissa rapidly intensified going into Sunday morning and is now a Category 4 hurricane with 140 mph winds. The US National Hurricane Center expects it to strengthen into a rare Category 5 hurricane on Sunday night or early Monday.

Jamaica faces damaging winds and heavy rainfall Sunday and Monday that could trigger catastrophic and life-threatening flash floods and landslides.

The storm's slow movement is expected to bring a deluge of rain to multiple countries in the Caribbean, and prolong its dangerous impacts over a period of several days.

Hurricane Melissa became a major hurricane late Saturday with catastrophic flash flooding and landslides in Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica.

Melissa rapidly intensified into a hurricane on Saturday, Oct. 25, as it continued its slow slog across the Caribbean Sea. Forecasters said the hurricane is expected to potentially power up to a Category 4 or 5 hurricane with winds over 150 mph.

Hurricane Melissa has strengthened into a major Category 3 hurricane, unleashing torrential rain and threatening to cause catastrophic flooding in the northern Caribbean, including Haiti and Jamaica