Hurricane Melissa is close to making landfall on Jamaica as by far the strongest storm to hit the island since records were first kept 174 years ago.

Ahead of Hurricane Melissa making landfall, officials in Jamaica warned of the potential for catastrophic damage from the Category 5 storm.

The Category 5 storm brings devastating wind and rain to the Caribbean island nation. Here's the hurricane's up-to-the-minute impact.

Watch Jamaica live webcams capture Hurricane Melissa's landfall. Live webcam video as tropical storm nears Kingston, Montego Bay, Treasure Beach and more.

Hurricane Melissa has intensified to a Category 5 storm with winds reaching 165 mph, and is expected to make landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday, marking the first time the island will experience a Category 5 hurricane.

Hurricane Melissa has caused extreme destruction and a rising death total across the Caribbean as the storm moves towards the Bahamas on Oct. 29.

Aircraft tracking fanatics have spotted two hurricane hunters flying into the eye of Hurricane Melissa as it is set to make landfall in Jamaica.