Hurricane Melissa is close to making landfall on Jamaica as by far the strongest storm to hit the island since records were first kept 174 years ago.

Hurricane Melissa has made landfall on Jamaica as the strongest storm to hit the island in the 174 years since records began

It is expected to slice diagonally across the island, entering near St. Elizabeth parish in the south and exiting around St. Ann parish in the north, before heading for Cuba.

Hurricane Melissa made landfall Tuesday as one of the strongest hurricanes on record in the Atlantic basin.