Hurricane Melissa roared ashore on Tuesday as one of the most powerful landfalls in Atlantic Basin recorded history.

Follow live updates on Hurricane Melissa as the death toll reaches 38 people. Recovery efforts are underway in Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba and the Dominican Republic.

Hurricane Melissa remains an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane and its core is slamming Jamaica today. Winds increased to a whopping 185 mph late morning just before landfall around noon near New Hope,

Melissa slammed into Jamaica's shoreline Tuesday, Oct. 28, as a Category 5 hurricane leaving widespread flooding. See photos.

Hurricane Melissa, the most powerful hurricane to ever hit Jamaica, swept over the island nation and moved over Cuba leaving devastation in its path.

Hurricane Melissa is on track to pass through the southeastern islands of the Bahamas, which are sparsely populated compared to the islands in the north of the archipelago. The two islands that are in the storm’s direct path, Crooked Island and Long Island, have a total population of just a few thousand people.

Hurricane Melissa has been upgraded to a Category 5 storm, with dangerous winds, storm surge and flash flooding expected in Jamaica, forecasters said.

Category 5 Hurricane Melissa sped up early Tuesday making landfall in Jamaica around 1 p.m, tying the record for the strongest landfall in the Atlantic.

CBS News Miami has been in touch with families living through the aftermath, including Marvin Edwards, who rode out the hurricane in Montego Bay.