The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said it expects a catastrophic situation in Jamaica as Hurricane Melissa makes landfall with gusts over 300km/h, flash floods and landslides in the worst storm to hit the island this century.
"It's a catastrophic situation expected in Jamaica," WMO tropical cyclone specialist Anne-Claire Fontan told a Geneva press briefing.
"For Jamaica, it will be the storm of the century for sure."
The hurricane could affect 1.5 million people in Jamaica alone, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said.
"1.5 million people may be impacted," Necephor Mghendi, the IFRC's head of delegation for the English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean, told reporters in Geneva from Trinidad and Tobago, warning that number could be "an underestimate".
Jamaican officials have urged people to get to higher ground and shelters, with the prime minister warning it could bring massive devastation.
The Category 5 storm - which could be the island's most violent on record - is charting a painstakingly slow path through the Caribbean, and has already been blamed for three deaths in Jamaica, three deaths in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic.
The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported that Melissa was 280 kilometres from the Jamaican capital of Kingston and 420 kilometres southwest of Guantanamo, Cuba.
The NHC said that its maximum sustained wind speed was 290km/h.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has advised any Irish citizens currently in Jamaica to see appropriate shelter and follow the advice of local authorities.
The storm was expected to make landfall early tomorrow and slice diagonally across the island, entering near St Elizabeth parish in the south and exiting around St Ann parish in the north, forecasters said.
Its heavy rains combined with intense winds could wreak devastation on par with historic hurricanes, including 2017's Maria or 2005's Katrina, which left indelible impacts on Puerto Rico and the US city of New Orleans.
Scientists say human-driven climate change is causing such massive storms to become increasingly common in the region.
Local government minister Desmond McKenzie said yesterday evening that of the island's 880-odd shelters standing by, only 133 were hosting locals.
They "should be seeing people now", Mr McKenzie said, adding: "I want to urge persons in these parishes to get to high ground as quickly as possible."
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness said the island's western end faced the worst destruction.
"I don't believe there is any infrastructure within this region that could withstand a Category 5 storm, so there could be significant dislocation," he told CNN.
But despite pleas to evacuate, many Jamaican residents were staying put.
Watch: 'Hurricane hunters' fly through eye of Melissa
"I am not moving. I don't believe I can run from death," Roy Brown said in Kingston's seaside area of Port Royal.
The plumber and tiler said he was reluctant to flee because of his past experiences with the poor conditions of government hurricane shelters.
Fisherwoman Jennifer Ramdial agreed, adding: "I just don't want to leave."
Mr Holness told a press briefing that the evacuation was about "the national good of saving lives".
"You have been warned. It's now up to you to use that information to make the right decision," he said.
Part of Melissa's punch stems from its slow pace: it is lumbering along slower than most people walk, at just 4km/h.
That means areas in its path could endure punishing conditions for far longer than during most hurricanes.
The NHC warned of "catastrophic" flash flooding, landslides and destructive winds that could cause lengthy power and communications outages, along with "extensive infrastructural damage".
Up to 100cm of rainfall is forecast, with flash flooding and landslides expected in Jamaica as well as Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Cuba.
A storm surge is likely along Jamaica's southern coast, with waters potentially rising four metres, along with "destructive waves".
In the Flagaman farming community of St Elizabeth, residents hunkered down in a shop.
Owner Enrico Coke said he opened it for fear that his neighbours had nowhere to go: "I'm concerned about farmers, the fishermen will be suffering after this.
"We'll need help as soon as possible, especially water for the people."
After pummelling Jamaica, Melissa is forecast to cross over eastern Cuba tomorrow night.
US moves military assets in Caribbean to safety ahead of Melissa
The United States has moved military assets in the Caribbean to safety ahead of the expected landfall of a massive hurricane that is set to slam into Jamaica.
Washington has an unusually large number of forces deployed in the region - seven US Navy ships as well as F-35 stealth warplanes as part of what it calls counter-narcotics efforts - and there is a danger of those assets being affected by Hurricane Melissa.
US forces "have implemented inclement weather plans and moved away from any area where current or forecasted weather conditions are hazardous and could potentially pose unacceptable levels of risk," the military's Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said when asked about preparations for the storm.
"Despite these recent actions, they remain ready and able to accomplish their assigned missions," said SOUTHCOM, which is responsible for US forces in central and South America.
Yesterday, officials in Jamaica said three people had died while preparing for the storm, cutting tree branches and working on ladders.
In the Dominican Republic, a 79-year-old man was found dead after being swept away in a stream, officials said. A 13-year-old boy was missing.
Haiti's civil protection agency said three people died in storm conditions over the weekend. Meteorologist Kerry Emanuel said global warming was causing more storms to rapidly intensify as Melissa did, raising the potential for enormous rains.
"Water kills a lot more people than wind," he said.
The last major hurricane to impact Jamaica was Beryl in July 2024 - an abnormally strong storm for the time of year.
"Human-caused climate change is making all of the worst aspects of Hurricane Melissa even worse," said climate scientist Daniel Gilford.
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