Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica as a Category 5 hurricane -- one of the most powerful hurricane landfalls on record in the Atlantic basin. Melissa is now a Category 3 hurricane as it heads toward eastern Cuba, after bringing catastrophic winds, rain and storm surge to Jamaica.

Hurricane Melissa ripped a path of destruction through Jamaica after making landfall as one of the most powerful hurricanes on record today, lashing the island nation with brutal winds and torrential rain before heading towards Cuba.

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

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.

Following a Category 5 landfall in Jamaica, Melissa is set to accelerate northward with destructive winds, extreme rainfall and more. Here's the very latest.

Hurricane Melissa slammed Jamaica as a Category 5 storm, the island’s strongest on record, before weakening slightly and moving toward Cuba, where it still poses a major threat.c

After Melissa moves away from Jamaica, Cuba is next in line for the powerful hurricane’s fury. Landfall is expected very early Wednesday morning, likely a couple hours after midnight, but impacts have already begun.