Hurricane Melissa intensified into a powerful Category 5 storm and remained on track to slam Jamaica with a destructive storm surge, damaging winds and life-threatening flash flooding.

Hurricane Melissa intensified to Category 5 strength Monday as it neared Jamaica, where forecasters said it would unleash catastrophic flooding, multiple landslides and extensive infrastructure damage.

Cyclone Montha, the first major cyclonic storm of the year, is rapidly intensifying over the Bay of Bengal and has made landfall near Kakinada on October 27 evening. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the system,

Storm to hit Andhra coast tonight. IMD issues red alert for Andhra, Odisha and Tamil Nadu. Track real-time updates on landfall timing, rainfall intensity, evacuation efforts, and weather warnings.

The cyclonic storm is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast at a wind speed of 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph, IMD alerted.