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.

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.

Hurricane Melissa is barrelling towards Cuba after leaving a trail of destruction in Jamaica, though the full extent of its impact remains unclear. The storm has strengthened back up to Category 4. Follow the latest below.

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.

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 struck Jamaica early Tuesday afternoon as a Category 5 storm with 185 mile per hour winds, causing widespread flooding and knocking out power to more than half of the island’s population before it moved on to Cuba.

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

Powerful Hurricane Melissa continues to lose some strength, but remains a very dangerous hurricane as it tracks over Jamaica and heads towards Cuba.

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.