Jamaica is on high alert as Hurricane Melissa, now a Category 5 storm, barrels toward the island. Fuelled by extreme Caribbean heat, the storm has intensified rapidly, packing winds of up to 265 km/h. It’s expected to make landfall on Jamaica’s southern coast on today, dumping as much as 750 mm of rain and unleashing storm surges over three metres high. Officials have warned of: “catastrophic, life-threatening” flooding and urged residents to evacuate low-lying areas.

Airports are shutting down, tourists are being evacuated, and more than 800 shelters are open across the country. The capital, Kingston, may avoid a direct hit, but still faces dangerous flooding and hurricane-force winds.