Hurricane Melissa is Likely a Category 5; Updated 1:15am

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[1:15a Monday]  This is the most powerful hurricane in its presentation on satellite that you will probably ever see in the Atlantic. The (hard to discern) lightning around the eye indicates additional strengthening. I have placed an arrow pointing to the northeast coast of Jamaica.
I suspect winds are now in the 160mph range or even a little stronger but we won't know because the midnight Hurricane Hunter aircraft has apparently had to turn back (reason unknown). 


[6:20p] As anticipated, the strengthening of Melissa resumed this afternoon and it now appears it will reach Cat 5 intensity.

[4:20p] Based on satellite and aircraft Hurricane Hunter data, Melissa has sustained winds of 150 mph around the eye and the pressure has dropped at least another 4 mb during the past four hours. The storm has moved straight west since 11am.

See the guidance below. This will likely be a catastrophic storm for Jamaica. Here is what the Jamaica Observer is saying about the storm. 
Image of Melissa at 5:41pm EDT. The outline of Jamaica is just above. The appearance of the eye has both indicated strengthen the past half hour; the eye is classic for a powerful hurricane. 

Updated at 6:20pm
Melissa is forecast to strike Jamaica with catastrophic flooding and winds (upper Cat 4 or lower Cat 5) in about 36 hours. 
Above is the latest forecast from NHC. "M" = major (Cat 3 or stronger) hurricane. "H" = Cat 1 or 2 hurricane. Red = hurricane warning. Pink = hurricane watch. Brown = hurricane force winds. Amber = tropical storm forecast winds (39 to 74 mph). The storm is forecast to be a Cat 5 with 160 mph sustained winds near the coast of Jamaica at landfall. In Jamaica, 30+ inches of rain possible over the mountains with catastrophic flooding. 

Nation by Nation Guidance:

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