Hurricane Melissa is forecast to bring extreme, life-threatening storm surge to Jamaica when it strikes the island as a Category 4 or 5 hurricane on Tuesday. The storm surge will decimate parts of Jamaica's southern coast, with water surging up to 13 feet above ground level. Here is how storm surge works and why it's so dangerous:

Hurricane Melissa is approaching Jamaica as a powerful Category 5 storm with 175 mph winds.

It is expected to slice diagonally across the island, entering near St. Elizabeth parish in the south and exiting around St. Ann parish in the north, before heading for Cuba.