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Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica Tuesday, the first Category 5 storm to ever hit the nation
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The storm slammed into the western city of New Hope, carrying maximum sustained winds of 185 miles per hour
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It's the strongest storm ever to hit Jamaica, and one of the strongest storms in recent years in the Atlantic Basin
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Previously, Jamaica's strongest storm was Hurricane Gilbert, which hit the island nation as a Category 4 storm in 1988
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Category 4 storms carry winds of 130 to 156 miles per hour
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Melissa is already proving deadly with reports of fatalities in Jamaica, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic
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Officials warn those who haven't already to evacuate. There are reports that some people are attempting to wait out the storm against authorities' advice
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Forecasters say Melissa is bringing catastrophic winds, torrential rain, and a life-threatening storm surge
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Early Tuesday afternoon, Melissa was moving north-northeast at 9 miles per hour
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It is expected to move across Jamaica within a few hours. The storm is not expected to track toward the U.S
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For more on this story, download the Straight Arrow News app or visit san.com
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For Straight Arrow News, I'm Lauren Keenan
