Melissa is now a Category 3 hurricane as it heads toward eastern Cuba, after bringing catastrophic winds, rain and storm surge to Jamaica. Melissa has weakened to a Category 3 hurricane, with 125 mph maximum sustained winds, on its approach toward eastern Cuba.

Hurricane Melissa hit Jamaica with the strength of a Category 5 storm bringing 180 mph winds, torrential rain and flooding. The storm is now heading towards Cuba with a Category 4 strength. It is one of the strongest storms to ever hit the country and could “ reshape Jamaica for years to come .”

CNN News Central delivered urgent breaking news coverage regarding an intense storm building which is projected to bring 160 mph winds, 13 foot storm surges, and 40 inches of rain

Here is Melissa’s forecasted path: Melissa is expected to make landfall in central or western Jamaica late Monday night or early Tuesday morning, likely as a Category 4 or 5 hurricane. Most of the destruction will unfold from noon on Monday to noon on Tuesday.

Tropical Storm Melissa is expected to meander the Caribbean at an agonizingly slow pace in the coming days, even as it’s forecast to strengthen into a hurricane, covering as little ground as 2 miles in an hour.