🔗 Share this article

Hurricane the storm is forecast to become a uncommon Category 5 hurricane as it turns toward the Caribbean island, delivering deadly flash flooding and landslides.

This weather system, which registered winds of up to 120 miles per hour as of 0600 Greenwich Mean Time, is presently veering north-west in the Caribbean and is projected to reach land by midweek, according to weather experts.

Alerts of electricity outages and structural damage have been issued as the hurricane produces up to thirty inches of rainfall and storm surges as high as 4m above normal levels. "Seek shelter now," residents have been advised.

Melissa is the 13th cyclone in the current Atlantic hurricane season, which normally finishes in the eleventh month.

Category Five Hurricane Threat

A category five cyclone is the most powerful category, with sustained winds of at least 157mph.

While Melissa is set to diminish in strength to a fourth-level cyclone before making landfall on Jamaica, experts said there was "minimal real distinction in the overall impacts" upon landfall, and that the storm will be "at least that intensity" when it impacts the country.

Critical Readiness Measures

With tropical storm-strength wind and rainfall anticipated well in advance well before it crosses the island's interior - possibly even the city of Kingston - alerts indicate that "readiness efforts must be accelerated".

"A multi-day period of harmful winds and heavy rainfall has started and will cause catastrophic and life-threatening sudden floods and multiple mudslides," advised climate experts.

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness said: "I understand that there are numerous residents who are concerned, who are very concerned, and appropriately: worry is natural.

"Yet the optimal approach to manage nervousness and any nervousness and concern is to stay ready."

Residents are being advised to secure their homes with sandbags and timber panels, and to accumulate basic necessities.

Broader Impact

Alerts are also active for regions of Haiti including the main city, Port au Prince, the adjacent nation and the eastern part of Cuba, where Melissa is expected to bring similar effects by the middle portion of the coming week.

Mudslides presently generated by the storm have already killed two in Haiti, according to emergency services.

Expected Path

The hurricane is predicted to move across the island nation by the middle of the week before traveling via the Antillas Mayores and out into the Atlantic Ocean.

By the time it reaches Cuba, it is anticipated to have diminished to a third-level cyclone.

Climate Context

Even though it is difficult to link particular meteorological occurrences to climate change, experts say it is causing climate patterns more prevalent and more severe.

Increased sea temperatures produce more moisture in the environment, helping fuel the creation of storms.

Before the commencement of this season's Atlantic hurricane season, climate agencies projected higher-than-average occurrence, citing elevated ocean temperatures and potential stronger monsoon activity around African coastal regions - where tropical systems frequently develop.