🔗 Share this article

Cyclone Melissa is projected to escalate to a uncommon Category 5 hurricane as it turns towards the Caribbean island, delivering dangerous rapid inundation and landslides.

The cyclone, which had wind speeds of up to 195 km/h as of 6:00 AM GMT, is now shifting toward the northwest in the Caribbean and is anticipated to reach land by midweek, according to hurricane specialists.

Advisories of electricity outages and structural damage have been issued as the hurricane produces up to thirty inches of rain and coastal flooding as high as 4m above ground. "Take cover without delay," inhabitants have been urged.

This hurricane is the 13th storm in this year's Atlantic hurricane season, which typically ends in November.

Highest-Level Storm Threat

A Category 5 hurricane is the most intense classification, with winds of at least 252 km/h.

While this storm is expected to reduce in intensity to a Category 4 storm before arriving at the island, meteorologists said there was "almost no noticeable change in the total effects" upon making contact with land, and that the storm will be "equally strong" when it strikes the island.

Immediate Preparations

With storm-force winds and rain anticipated well in advance ahead of it crosses Jamaica's central region - including potentially the city of Kingston - alerts state that "safety measures need to be finalized quickly".

"Several days of harmful winds and heavy rainfall has started and will cause catastrophic and life-threatening sudden floods and numerous rock slides," urged meteorological officials.

The country's head of government the statesman commented: "I know that there are numerous residents who are worried, who are very concerned, and appropriately: concern is justified.

"But the best way to handle nervousness and any nervousness and concern is to be prepared."

Locals are being instructed to protect their properties with protective bags and wooden boards, and to accumulate basic necessities.

Wider Impact

Warnings are also in effect for parts of Haiti encompassing the capital, Port au Prince, the adjacent nation and Cuba's eastern region, where the hurricane is projected to bring comparable impacts by the middle portion of the coming week.

Mudslides presently generated by the hurricane have resulted in two fatalities in Haiti, according to the nation's Civil Protection agency.

Expected Course

Melissa is predicted to move across the island nation by the middle of the week before moving through the Caribbean archipelago and entering the open ocean.

By the point it reaches the Caribbean nation, it is predicted to have reduced to a Category 3 storm.

Weather Connection

While it is hard to connect particular meteorological occurrences to climate change, scientists say it is causing climate patterns more common and more extreme.

Warmer oceans create additional humidity in the atmosphere, aiding in the creation of hurricanes.

Before the start of the current Caribbean cyclone season, weather organizations predicted higher-than-average occurrence, citing elevated ocean temperatures and potential enhanced seasonal rains around West Africa - where Atlantic storms often form.