An animation depicts how Hurricane Melissa, the most powerful storm recorded this year, has strengthened over the past 24 hours before it made landfall on Tuesday (28 October). A graphic released by Cloud Investigation and Response Automation (CIRA) on Tuesday (28 October) shows the category five storm gaining power as it hurtles closer towards Jamaica. It is predicted to bring with it up to 30 inches of rain and “life-threatening storm surges”. At least seven people have died in the Caribbean so far, including three in Jamaica, three in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic. Mandatory evacuations were ordered in at least seven flood-prone communities on the island.

Melissa is expected to strengthen even further into a major catastrophic hurricane when making landfall in Jamaica.

The rare highest-strength storm is set to hit Jamaica by Tuesday, having already caused two deaths in Haiti.

Hurricane Melissa strengthened into a major Category 4 hurricane, with the possibility of intensifying to a Category 5 storm Sunday night.

Hurricane Melissa has strengthened into a major Category 4 hurricane, with the possibility of intensifying to a Category 5 storm.

Hurricane Melissa has strengthened into a major Category 4 hurricane, with the possibility of intensifying to a Category 5 storm.

Storm could intensify further, threatening to cause catastrophic flooding in the northern Caribbean, including Haiti

Hurricane Melissa is expected to continue to gain force as it threatens catastrophic damage to Jamaica. Latest updates.

Residents in Jamaica prepared for Hurricane Melissa as it strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane on Sunday (26 October). Melissa, the 13th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane…

The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said the Category 4 was packing maximum winds of about 145 miles per hour – and would likely intensify into a top-level Category 5 storm…

Record-breaking hurricane expected to make landfall on Tuesday with 160mph winds, while New Zealand reels from storm damage

Melissa is forecast to make landfall on the island Tuesday and cross Cuba and the Bahamas through Wednesday.

Hurricane Melissa has been upgraded to a Category 5 storm, with destructive winds, storm surge, and catastrophic flooding expected to intensify in Jamaica, the National Hurricane…

Melissa has been upgraded to a category five storm and could become Jamaica's strongest on record.

We would like to hear from people about the impact Hurricane Melissa is having in their area

Weather satellites have beamed back views of Hurricane Melissa as seen from space as it makes its way over the Caribbean Sea, with Jamaica bracing for what could be the "most…

Hurricane Melissa has strengthened into a Category 5 storm, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Melissa has strengthened into a major Category 5 storm. Here's what that means.

Satellite imagery shows the “monster” eye of Hurricane Melissa, the most powerful storm recorded this year, that is currently hurtling towards Jamaica. The category five storm is…

At least three people are dead in Jamaica as Hurricane Melissa, the world's strongest storm so far this year, bears down on the Caribbean island nation, officials said.

"There is no infrastructure in the region that can withstand a Category 5," Prime Minister Andrew Holness said. "The question now is the speed of recovery."