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,

An intensifying Melissa is expected to bring destructive flooding to Jamaica, southern Haiti and the Dominican Republic before tracking toward Cuba next week.

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,

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.

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

Hurricane Melissa threatens the northern Caribbean with potentially catastrophic rainfall, flooding and landslides. As much as 35 inches of rain is forecast in areas of Haiti.