In my opinion, it’s not a matter of whether Melissa reaches Category 5 status today. That appears to be almost a certainty at this point.

Hurricane Melissa has intensified into a category 4 hurricane, and could develop further to become a category 5 as it approaches Jamaica, according to the National Hurricane Center.

“If those rains were to occur, you’re talking about catastrophic flooding potential,” said Jamie Rhome, the center’s deputy director.