🔗 Share this article

Tropical Storm Melissa is projected to escalate to a infrequent Category 5 storm as it turns towards the Caribbean island, delivering deadly rapid inundation and mudslides.

The cyclone, which registered wind speeds of up to 120 mph as of 0600 Greenwich Mean Time, is currently turning north-west in the Caribbean Sea and is anticipated to hit the coast by early next week, based on data from hurricane specialists.

Warnings of blackouts and damage to infrastructure have been announced as the hurricane generates up to thirty inches of rainfall and sea level surges as high as 4m above typical tides. "Find safe refuge immediately," locals have been advised.

Melissa is the thirteenth cyclone in this year's Atlantic storm period, which normally finishes in the eleventh month.

Category Five Cyclone Risk

A category five cyclone is the most powerful category, with wind speeds of at least 157 miles per hour.

While Melissa is expected to diminish in strength to a fourth-level storm before arriving at the island, experts said there was "very little practical difference in the total effects" upon landfall, and that the storm will be "just as powerful" when it hits the country.

Critical Readiness Measures

With tropical storm-level wind and rainfall predicted to begin ahead of it passes over Jamaica's central region - including potentially the city of Kingston - alerts state that "preparations should be rushed to completion".

"Several days of harmful winds and torrential rain are underway and will cause catastrophic and life-threatening sudden floods and many landslides," counseled weather authorities.

The country's head of government Andrew Holness said: "I know that there are countless citizens who are anxious, who are extremely apprehensive, and appropriately: concern is justified.

"But the optimal approach to address anxiety and any nervousness and worry is to stay ready."

Inhabitants are being instructed to protect their properties with sandbags and timber panels, and to stock up on essentials.

Regional Impact

Advisories are also in effect for regions of Haiti encompassing the capital, Port au Prince, the neighboring country and Cuba's eastern region, where the hurricane is expected to bring comparable impacts by the middle portion of the coming week.

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

Future Path

The hurricane is predicted to cross the island nation by Wednesday before passing across the Antillas Mayores and entering the open ocean.

By the moment it reaches the Caribbean nation, it is predicted to have diminished to a category three hurricane.

Climate Context

Although it is difficult to connect specific storms to climate change, experts say it is causing meteorological events increasingly frequent and more severe.

Warmer oceans generate more moisture in the air, helping fuel the formation of tropical cyclones.

Prior to the commencement of this season's Atlantic hurricane season, climate agencies projected increased storm frequency, referencing elevated ocean temperatures and likely stronger monsoon activity around the western African continent - where tropical systems typically originate.