Melissa, with maximum winds of 70 mph and stronger gusts, should attain hurricane status later Oct. 25 and become a major hurricane by Sunday, the National Hurricane Center said Saturday morning. A tropical storm becomes a hurricane when its winds reach 74 mph.

By early next week, we might be talking about a Category 5 hurricane, but widespread flooding is going to be the most impactful threat from Melissa. Here's how bad it could get in Haiti and Jamaica.

Hurricane Melissa will bring a risk for a prolonged period of heavy rain and high winds to several Caribbean countries, including Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. The storm will also create high surf and rip currents and raise the risk for flooding and mudslides.

Melissa could become a Category 5 hurricane. If that wasn't enough, flooding and landslides could be widespread from Hispaniola to Jamaica and Cuba. Here's the very latest forecast.

Melissa strengthened into a hurricane with 90 mph winds on Saturday as the US National Hurricane Center warned it would turn into a rare Category 5 hurricane by Monday afternoon.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami warned of "life-threatening and catastrophic flash flooding and landslides" throughout Hispaniola.

Hurricane Melissa has strengthened into a hurricane and could soon rapidly intensify into a monstrous Category 4 or 5 storm.