The US National Hurricane Centre says the category five storm is "extremely dangerous and life-threatening" as it hits the island.

The center of Hurricane Charlie skirted the southern coast of Jamaica on the night of Aug. 17, 1951, before it made landfall early the next morning as a strong Category 3 storm, bringing destructive winds to the entirety of the island, according to the NHC. The strongest winds at Kingston were measured at 110 mph.

With Hurricane Melissa moving at speeds of 175 miles per hour and preparing to make landfall on the island nation of Jamaica by the afternoon of Oct. 28, governments are warning their citizens to put off travel, while airlines and cruise lines are calling off trips.

Watch Jamaica live webcams capture Hurricane Melissa's landfall. Live webcam video as tropical storm nears Kingston, Montego Bay, Treasure Beach and more.

The Category 5 storm’s slow pace could have devastating effects when it makes landfall. Officials warned those in its path to seek shelter, saying, “This is not the time to be brave.”

Hurricane Melissa is about to make landfall in Jamaica. Marlon Hill, Lead Relief Mobilizer for the south Florida organization Caribbean Strong, joins Chris Jansing to share more on how they are already preparing to send critical supplies to the country in the aftermath of the storm.

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — Hurricane Melissa strengthened into a Category 5 storm Monday as it drew closer to Jamaica, where forecasters said it would unleash catastrophic flooding, landslides and widespread damage. It would be the strongest hurricane to hit the island since record-keeping began in 1851.