Hurricane Melissa, one of the strongest Atlantic storms on record, left a trail of devastation in its wake across Caribbean islands.

The National Hurricane Center's 10 a.m. Friday update reported that Category 1 Hurricane Melissa is in the Atlantic Ocean, 255 miles north of Bermuda. Packing maximum sustained winds of 90 mph, the hurricane is tracking to the northeast at 41 mph. Melissa is forecast to become an extratropical cyclone.

As of 5 p.m. ET Tuesday, Melissa was still a powerful Category 4 storm, with winds of 145 mph. The hurricane is centered about 15 miles east of Montego Bay and about 200 miles southwest of Guantánamo, Cuba. It is moving north-northeast at 8 mph, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.

At least five people have been killed on the island nation after the powerful category 5 storm hit earlier this week, with at least 20 left dead in Haiti.

After bringing devastation to Jamaica and Cuba, Melissa will track through the northern Caribbean and eventually reach portions of Bermuda and Newfoundland with heavy rain and damaging winds.

South Florida was spared a direct blow from Hurricane Melissa, but the massive storm still hit home for the millions of residents there who have deep roots in the Caribbean

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