Hurricane Melissa reaches Category 5 intensity, setting new records

Hurricane Melissa intensified into a scale-topping Category 5 storm just south of Jamaica early Monday morning. Forecasters expect the storm to remain near peak strength as it begins to curve north and makes landfall on the island nation within the next 24-36 hours.

Melissa achieved this rare feat by taking advantage of favorable atmospheric conditions and exceptionally warm water temperatures throughout the northern Caribbean Sea. This is the only storm to track through the Caribbean so far this year.

This is the third Category 5 hurricane this year. Only one other Atlantic season has recorded more than two Category 5 storms—2005, which saw four scale-toppers in Emily, Katrina, Rita, and Wilma.

This is the seventh Category 5 storm we've seen in the past three years, a historic stretch since records began back in 1850.

This is the thirteenth Category 5 storm in the past decade, also a historic stretch since reliable records began.

Melissa is also on track to become the strongest storm to ever strike Jamaica. The previous recordholder is 1988's Hurricane Gilbert, which made landfall near Kingston with 130 mph winds.

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