KINGSTON, Jamaica — Hurricane Melissa is still forecast to make landfall in Jamaica Tuesday morning, now as a Category 5 hurricane, according to the most recent update from Principal Director of the Meteorological Service, Evan Thompson.

Melissa, which is over 100 miles south of Jamaica, has begun to make a northerly turn.

“It is moving now to the north west which would suggest that it is going to be moving away. It suggests that, but be not fooled because the projection was that it would turn toward the north, then the north west to the north east… it is what was predicted,” said Thompson during a press briefing at 6:00 pm on Monday to which well over 10,000 Jamaicans tuned in.

Thompson provided insight into what could potentially occur on Monday, going into Tuesday morning.

— Conditions are expected to gradually deteriorate tonight, with rainfall and heavy winds increasing across the country as it approaches and passes;

— Hurricane Melissa is expected to make landfall in east Westmoreland or extreme west of St Elizabeth early Tuesday morning;

— Storm surge is expected for several areas especially Black River and Alligator Pond;

— Central and eastern parishes are expected to be affected by the heaviest rainfall, possibly up to 30 inches, as the heaviest rain is to be on the right side of the eye, though western parishes will experience rain as well;

— Significant flooding is expected islandwide;

— Tropical storm force winds are to affect southern parishes first, then northern Parishes as the centre moves closer;

— Hurricane force winds are forecast to affect south western and central parishes, which are expected to be within 45 kilometres of the eyewall; and

— By Tuesday evening, Hurricane Melissa is expected to exit Jamaica on the north coast in Trelawny or St Ann.