Jamaicans will spend tonight sheltering in place after Hurricane Melissa slammed the island. The storm is now heading towards Cuba, but powerful winds and heavy rain will continue to pummel Jamaica. More than 800 shelters were opened ahead of Melissa's impact, according to Jamaican officials. And some 15,000 people are in these shelters tonight.

Hurricane Melissa, Jamaica’s strongest storm on record, kills seven across the Caribbean and moves toward Cuba as a powerful Category 4 storm.

After grinding across the eastern end of Cuba, forecasters expect Melissa to gear up for a third landfall in as many days, this time on the central and southeastern Bahamas as a Category 2. It could bring up to 10 inches of rain and 5 to 8 feet of storm surge, enough to cause flash flooding and power outages on the islands.

Melissa is now centered off the northern coast of Jamaica after barreling ashore as one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes in history. Follow for live updates.

In the last 25 years, a total of 10 major hurricanes have lashed the island. “Cuba is right in the center of things,” a weather historian said.

Hurricane Melissa has intensified into a Category 4 storm as it moves swiftly across the Caribbean Sea toward eastern Cuba, the US National Hurricane

Melissa underwent extreme rapid intensification, strengthening to a rare Category 5 with winds of 175 mph and stronger gusts, making it the strongest storm on the planet this year. Follow for live updates.

Hurricane Melissa is expected to hit eastern Cuba after passing Jamaica. NBC News’ Ed Augustin reports on how the island is dealing with power cuts, food shortages and an outbreak of tropical diseases as the storm approaches.