WEATHER: Hurricane Melissa a Category 5 on track for Jamaica, Caribbean strike

Hurricane Melissa gained strength, and is now a Category 5 storm heading to strike Jamaica and impact Cuba, Hispaniola and the Bahamas heading into the rest of the week.

The storm is expected to move over Jamaica and keep its strength as it hits Southeast Cuba and moves past Hispaniola before it moves over the Bahamas by Wednesday afternoon still as a hurricane.

It is on track to move out to sea and impact Bermuda before breaking up into a tropical storm in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean.

Winds were recorded on Monday morning at 160 mph sustained – making it a Category 5 storm. Hurricane Melissa will be the second storm to hit a populated area with major impacts this season. Tropical Storm Chantal impacted the Carolinas, Virginia and the Chesapeake shore before it sputtered out over the mid-Atlantic region.

Melissa is expected to impact Jamaica this afternoon remain a major hurricane through the overnight hours and impact Cuba and the Bahamas on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The good news for Northwest Georgia is that Melissa won’t be causing any headaches around these parts. Instead, some much-needed rain has moved into the area and should be gone by the late afternoon-early evening hours this week.

NWS Peachtree City has the forecasted high only up to 54 on the day, with a low of 48 overnight with chances of rain through the rest of the overnight hours.

Expect overcast skies and a high of 61 on Tuesday, and rain moving back in Tuesday night and Wednesday, but should be gone in time for Trick or Treating on Halloween night.

There are chances of rain heading into Thursday and the highs will remain in the upper 50s to low 60s range for the rest of the week, with lows getting down into the 30s overnight starting on Wednesday night.

NWS Peachtree City expects mostly clear skies for Friday and the rest of the weekend, with temps in the mid 60s and lows down in to the 30s overnight to kick off November.

Check back for more weather updates on Hurricane Melissa as they become available.