Hurricane Melissa downgrades to Category 4 but continues to impact Jamaica

Hurricane Melissa has weakened slightly to a Category 4 system, but the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) says catastrophic winds, flash flooding, and storm surge remain ongoing across Jamaica.

The storm made landfall in Westmoreland and is moving over St James.

At 3:00 p.m. the hurricane's centre was located about 10 miles south of Montego Bay, packing maximum sustained winds near 150 mph (240 km/h).

Melissa is moving at 8 mph (13 km/h).

The NHC warned that this remains an "extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation," urging residents to stay in shelter and protect themselves by moving to an interior room without windows, away from falling trees.

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