Hurricane Melissa was hitting eastern Cuba hard early Wednesday after slamming Jamaica as a Category 5 storm. Maps show its forecast path.

The most powerful storm to hit the region since 1988 could inundate some areas of eastern Jamaica with up to 40 inches of rain. The arrival of its core has been delayed by stalling.

Satellites around Earth watched as a powerful Hurricane Melissa traveled toward Jamaica.

But the slow-moving nature of Melissa, known as a stalling, was what made it especially hazardous. “Moving at around 5km per hour, Jamaica will be exposed to high levels of rainfall for a prolonged period of time, increasing the risk of severe flooding,” she said.