Hurricane Melissa live updates: No official death toll in Jamaica

Hurricane Melissa remains a dangerous, Category 5 storm with landfall in western Jamaica expected Tuesday morning.

Melissa has winds of 175 mph and a central pressure dropping to 903 mb as of 11 p.m. ET on Monday night. Hurricane Melissa is now the strongest tropical cyclone on Earth in 2025.

The hurricane is moving very slowly at 2 mph, and the turn to the north-northeast is happening as it heads toward western Jamaica. Catastrophic winds, flooding, and storm surge are imminent for Jamaica Monday night through Tuesday. Conditions will deteriorate overnight.

Some fluctuations in intensity remain possible leading up to landfall -- but regardless of whether it’s a Category 4 or 5, the impacts will be the same.

Tropical storm conditions are happening in Jamaica on Monday night and the catastrophic hurricane-force wind conditions will arrive in western Jamaica by morning as it makes landfall. Locally, up to 40 inches of rain and up to 13 feet of storm surge along the south shore will remain possible in Jamaica.

Melissa will reach Cuba Tuesday night as a major hurricane before reaching the Southeastern Bahamas at hurricane strength.

-ABC News' Melissa Griffin

As Jamaica braces for the impact of Hurricane Melissa, Jamaica’s minister of Labour and Social Security, Pearnel Charles Jr., joined ABC News Live, saying those in especially vulnerable areas need to heed the warnings of officials.

"The Prime Minister has also declared evacuation orders, which means it's not a suggestion; it is a directive to save your life, to remove yourself from communities that are extremely vulnerable, the low-lying, flood-prone areas, and to get you to a shelter," Charles said.

The evacuation Order applies to Port Royal in Kingston; Portland Cottage and Rocky Point in Clarendon; Old Harbour Bay in St. Catherine; and New Haven, Riverton City and Taylor Land in St. Andrew, according to officials.

"Don't wait, don't gamble with your life if you are in one of those areas that are low lying, just get out, you know, secure what you can secure. ... Get your medicine, get your documents, get your children and get to a space that is higher ground and safer," Charles added.

"There is no possession or pride that is as important as a single life. So the message is, protect yourself, protect your family, and also look out for the elders. Look out for the persons with disabilities and those right now who need support. It's unity and collaboration to protect this nation," he said.

A U.S. Air Force Reserve crew, known as the "Hurricane Hunters," flew through the eye of Hurricane Melissa on Monday.

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US Air Force ‘Hurricane Hunters’ fly into Melissa’s eyeU.S. Air Force Reserve's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, aka the "Hurricane Hunters," flew into the eye of Hurricane Melissa on Monday to collect data for the National Hurricane Center.

ABCNews.com

Lt. Col. Mark Withee captured the crew making multiple passes through the storm. The Hurricane Hunters' mission is to collect critical weather data for the National Hurricane Center.

With 175 mph sustained winds, Hurricane Melissa has the strongest tropical cyclone winds on Earth in 2025.

Melissa is forecast to maintain its strength and make landfall as a Category 4 or Category 5 hurricane in Jamaica on Tuesday morning.

-ABC News’ Melissa Griffin