The strongest storm in the world hits; Never seen anything like this before; Death toll rising

The BBC reports that three deaths have already been recorded in Jamaica, following four fatalities in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Meteorologists believe this could become the strongest hurricane ever to hit Jamaica, with winds reaching 290 kilometers per hour and up to 101 centimeters of rainfall per square meter.

Yesterday morning, the intensity of Melissa was upgraded to Category 5—the maximum rating for storms.

Warnings are also in effect for Cuba and the southeastern Bahamas.

Meteorologist and storm chaser Matthew Cappucci told the BBC that Melissa will be the strongest hurricane to hit Jamaica since records began.

"There was one hurricane, Gilbert in 1981, which killed 49 people in Jamaica, and it was Category 3 when it made landfall," he said.

Cappucci stated that Melissa "could be an order of magnitude stronger" than Gilbert, as hurricane strength increases exponentially rather than linearly.

"No one in Jamaica has survived anything comparable to what they are about to experience," the meteorologist explained.

He added that while Category 5 storms are not uncommon, they usually do not make landfall. "It is extremely rare to see a Category 5 storm hit land anywhere on Earth," Cappucci concluded.

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has ordered mandatory evacuations from low-lying areas as the island prepares for the hurricane.

Residents across the country have also been instructed to seek shelter, and all public schools have switched to online learning.

Two international airports—Norman Manley in Kingston and Sangster in Montego Bay—have been closed.

"The Jamaican government has done everything it could to prepare for a storm like nothing we have ever seen," Information Minister Dana Morris Dickson told the BBC.

Given the potential rainfall of around 100 centimeters per square meter in parts of the island nation, Dickson said these are "figures never before seen in Jamaica in terms of precipitation."

She added that October is already a rainy month in the Caribbean country.

"The ground is already very saturated. If that much rain falls, we will face floods, major floods, and landslides in mountainous areas," the minister said, noting that Jamaica has 881 active shelters, all of which are free.