Melissa made landfall in southwestern Jamaica near New Hope with estimated maximum sustained winds of 185 mph and an estimated minimum central pressure of 892 mb, the National Hurricane Center said.

The Category 5 storm made landfall in southwestern Jamaica near New Hope with estimated maximum sustained winds of 185 mph and an estimated minimum central pressure of 892 millibars.

According to the NHC, the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, developed in 1971 by civil engineer Herbert Saffir and meteorologist Robert Homer Simpson, is a rating of 1 to 5 based on a hurricane's sustained wind speed and its potential for significant loss of life and damage.

In the last 25 years, a total of 10 major hurricanes have lashed the island. “Cuba is right in the center of things,” a weather historian said.

Meteorologist Robert Speta has a discussion with Colonel Ryan Rickert on what it's like to fly into hurricanes.

Hurricane Melissa is slamming eastern Cuba on Wednesday morning, Oct. 29, after hammering Jamaica on Tuesday and causing widespread damage.