What to know as Hurricane Melissa becomes Category 5, threatens Jamaica with 'catastrophic' floods

Hurricane Melissa intensified to a powerful Category 5 storm Monday as forecasters warned it would cause catastrophic flash flooding, life-threatening landslides and extremely strong winds across the Caribbean

Hurricane Melissa intensified to a powerful Category 5 storm Monday as forecasters warned it would cause catastrophic flash flooding, life-threatening landslides and extremely strong winds across the Caribbean.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami warned people in Jamaica to go to shelters and stay there during the storm, with dangerous conditions expected to last through Tuesday.

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Melissa is set to make landfall in Jamaica sometime Tuesday before moving across southeastern Cuba on Wednesday, its force diminished by tripping over land, and then heading across the southeastern Bahamas on Wednesday night, deflating to a Category 2 storm, U.S. forecasters said.

Jamaica Prime Minister Andrew Holness warned residents Monday to take the threat of the storm seriously, particularly young people who may be unaware of what a strong hurricane can do.