Storm Melissa Strengthens Into Hurricane, Threatening to Bring Catastrophic Flooding

Tropical Storm Melissa strengthened into a hurricane Saturday afternoon and is expected to rapidly intensify into a major hurricane, bringing heavy rain, catastrophic flooding, and landslides to parts of Jamaica and Haiti, forecasters said.

The system strengthened from a tropical storm into a hurricane Saturday afternoon, according to a 2 p.m. ET advisory from the National Hurricane Center (NHC). Meteorologists earlier in the day warned Melissa could reach Category 4 strength, delivering torrential rainfall and destructive winds.