A second landfall is forecast for early Wednesday morning in eastern Cuba. While slight weakening may occur due to terrain interaction, Melissa is expected to remain a strong storm near Category 4 intensity.

Historic, life-threatening flash flooding and landslides are expected in portions of Jamaica, southern Haiti and the Dominican Republic through the weekend, the NHC said. Peak storm surge heights could reach 9 to 13 feet above normal tide levels when the storm makes landfall, accompanied by large and powerfully destructive waves.

As of 8 a.m. Eastern Tuesday, Melissa had gained strength as a Category 5 hurricane, centered about 55 miles south-southeast of Negril, Jamaica, and about 265 miles southwest of Guantánamo, Cuba, moving north, northeast at 5 mph, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.

The two categories combined make up about 17 percent of all hurricanes in recorded history. Those reaching Category 5 — like Melissa — historically make up more like 4 percent of hurricanes. And fewer than half of the strongest two categories of hurricanes go on to hit land at such intensity.