A hurricane warning remains in effect for Jamaica, as powerful Hurricane Melissa continues westward over the Caribbean Sea south of the island while expected to turn northward.

At 7:00 a.m., the centre of Hurricane Melissa was located 135 miles southwest of Kingston, or 104 miles south of Bluefields in Westmoreland, Jamaica.

Melissa is moving toward the west near 6 km/h.

A slow turn toward the northwest and north is expected today and tonight, followed by a northeastward acceleration beginning on Tuesday.

On the forecast track, the core of Melissa is expected to move near or over Jamaica tonight and Tuesday.

Melissa is a category 5 hurricane with some additional strengthening forecast today along with some fluctuations in intensity likely before Melissa makes landfall on southwestern Jamaica, as a powerful major hurricane, early Tuesday.

Hurricane Melissa is expected to produce rainfall amounts reaching 15-30 inches over parts of Jamaica in the next couple of days, especially over central and eastern parishes, with higher amounts over hilly terrain.

Catastrophic flash floods and landslides are likely.

Tropical storm conditions are expected to spread over Jamaica today, and hurricane conditions are expected to begin tonight or early Tuesday.

Life-threatening storm surge, accompanied by large and destructive waves, is likely along the south coast of Jamaica tonight and on Tuesday.