Hurricane Melissa is among the strongest hurricanes to have formed in the Atlantic Ocean since records were kept, ranking as one the most powerful storms in terms of both wind strength and pressure.

Hurricane Melissa will be the strongest storm in modern history to hit Jamaica. Maximum sustained winds are 180 mph.

Hurricane Melissa reached Category 5 status near Jamaica but won't impact the Ohio Valley. Get live updates and tracking information.

The U.S. Air Force's "Hurricane Hunters" have flown inside the eye of Hurricane Melissa, capturing eerie footage of the historic storm that is expected to cause widespread devastation in Jamaica.

The two categories combined make up about 17 percent of all hurricanes in recorded history. Those reaching Category 5 — like Melissa — historically make up more like 4 percent of hurricanes. And fewer than half of the strongest two categories of hurricanes go on to hit land at such intensity.

Hurricane Melissa is now a powerful Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph, moving west at 3 mph as of Monday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The eyewall’s destructive winds may cause total structural failure, particularly in higher elevations, leading to widespread infrastructural damage, prolonged power and communication outages, and isolated communities.

Hurricane Melissa, a powerful, Category 5 storm, will slam into Jamaica on Tuesday as the worst storm the island has ever seen. Here is Melissa’s forecast path: The hurricane-force winds will begin in western Jamaica on Tuesday morning and last until the evening.