As of 3pm ET (6am AEDT), Hurricane Melissa has sustained winds of over 257km/hr, according to the US National Hurricane Centre, CNN said.
By the centre’s standards, Category 5 hurricanes have winds of at least 157 miles an hour – 252.6km/hr – so Melissa is coming close to dropping down the rankings.
But the danger is still very present for Jamaica despite winds falling 8km/hr in the past hour.
The hurricane centre issued a warning as the eye of the storm passed over the country.
“THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION! Do not leave your shelter as the eye passes over, as winds will rapidly increase on the other side of the eye.”
The eye of a hurricane is relatively calm, which can lure people into thinking the storm has passed, when really, they’re just halfway through.