Satellites around Earth are watching as a powerful Hurricane Melissa travels toward Jamaica.

If it strikes Jamaica at close to full strength, it could eclipse all storms the island has experienced before.

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.

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Hurricane Melissa is expected to crash into Jamaica with a strength reserved for a tiny percentage of Atlantic hurricanes. A hurricane reaching Category 4 or 5 strength is quite a feat in itself. The two categories combined make up about 17 percent of all hurricanes in recorded history.

Celebrity Beyond’s Oct. 26 itinerary will visit the Western Caribbean rather than the Eastern Caribbean, according to the cruise line’s parent company, Royal Caribbean Group. The ship will visit Costa Maya in Mexico, Belize and Roatan, Honduras.

American Peter Kong and his family are hunkered down in their hotel room in Jamaica as Hurricane Melissa approaches. Stocked up on food and water, Kong spoke to NBC News' Joe Fryer and Savannah Sellers about his current situation and said he and his family are bracing for the worst.