Hurricane Melissa made landfall over eastern Cuba early Wednesday as an "extremely dangerous" Category 3 storm, forecasters said, after pummeling Jamaica.

Hurricane Melissa is twisting across Cuba, its eye passing over the long, thin island’s eastern shores. Cubans are huddled in the dark, many far from home. The country evacuated about 750,000 people, who are now searching for safety as winds whip and land slides in the fierce rain. Cuba’s president said it would be a “very difficult night.”

A shutdown deadline that could affect millions of Americans is almost here. Jamaica reels after Hurricane Melissa slams into the island, severely damaging roads and hospitals. And, some White House aides worry what Trump might say about Taiwan ahead of the president’s meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

Melissa atravesaba Cuba el miércoles como tormenta de categoría tres después de azotar Jamaica como uno de los huracanes más

Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica with record-tying 185 mph winds, and its strength defied typical weakening factors

Hotter-than-average Caribbean water made Hurricane Melissa stronger and wetter. Its part of a trend that scientists link back to climate change.

With maximum sustained winds of 185 miles per hour as it batters the Caribbean island of Jamaica on Tuesday, Hurricane Melissa is a beast of a storm. Satellite and other images starkly illustrate Melissa’s monstrosity,