Hurricane Melissa strengthened into a Category 4 storm on Saturday. It unleashed torrential rain and threatened to cause catastrophic flooding in the northern Caribbean, including Haiti and Jamaica, the U.

A fast developing storm was expected to bring “unprecedented” amounts of rain to several countries, meteorologists said.

Melissa is forecast to rapidly intensify into a major hurricane and bring life-threatening rainfall, landslides and storm surge to Jamaica, Haiti and elsewhere.

US forecasters issued a hurricane warning for Jamaica on Saturday, meaning winds of at least 74 mph were expect in the area within 36 hours.

Tropical Storm Melissa could become a dangerous hurricane in the Caribbean over the coming days. Meanwhile, a long-duration lake-effect rain event is unfolding across the Great Lakes.

An intensifying Melissa is expected to bring destructive flooding to Jamaica, southern Haiti and the Dominican Republic before tracking toward Cuba next week.