There is nowhere that will escape the wrath of this storm,” said Evan Thompson, the principal director of Jamaica’s Meteorological Service.

Deadly storm Melissa strengthened Saturday afternoon into a Category 1 hurricane, with rapid intensification expected over the weekend as it cut a worryingly slow course toward the Caribbean island of Jamaica,

Melissa is projected to approach Jamaica this weekend, make landfall by early next week, and be near or over eastern Cuba by the middle of next week.

The storm is forecast to become a major hurricane by the end of the weekend, with life-threatening and catastrophic flash flooding in Jamaica and Southern Hispaniola, an advisory from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Saturday afternoon.

Tropical storm could represent worst-case scenario for Jamaica as it potentially makes landfall late Monday or early Tuesday, according to reports - Anadolu Ajansı

Jamaica's central location in the Caribbean, the island has never recorded a direct landfall from a Category 4 or 5 hurricane, according to records from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) dating back to 1850.

Tropical Storm Melissa, responsible for multiple fatalities in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, is nearing hurricane strength, sparking concerns over severe flooding, powerful storm surges, and extensive wind damage in Jamaica and surrounding regions.

Tallahassee residents with roots on the island are staying strong and "prayed up" for their loved ones who are bracing themselves for the storm.