🔗 Share this article

Tropical Storm Melissa is projected to strengthen into a infrequent category five hurricane as it veers toward the Caribbean island, causing deadly rapid inundation and landslides.

The cyclone, which had winds of up to 120 mph as of 06:00 GMT, is presently veering toward the northwest in the Caribbean and is anticipated to reach land by Tuesday, according to weather experts.

Advisories of blackouts and damage to infrastructure have been issued as Melissa brings up to thirty inches of precipitation and sea level surges as high as 4m above typical tides. "Take cover without delay," residents have been told.

Melissa is the 13th named storm in this year's Atlantic hurricane season, which normally finishes in the eleventh month.

Highest-Level Storm Threat

A category five cyclone is the most intense classification, with winds of at least 157 miles per hour.

Even though this storm is expected to diminish in strength to a category four storm before arriving at the island, meteorologists said there was "very little practical difference in the total effects" upon landfall, and that the hurricane will be "equally strong" when it impacts the nation.

Critical Readiness Measures

With tropical storm-level gusts and precipitation predicted to begin well before it passes over central Jamaica - possibly even the national capital - alerts emphasize that "safety measures need to be finalized quickly".

"Several days of damaging winds and heavy rainfall are underway and will cause devastating and dangerous rapid water accumulation and numerous rock slides," counseled weather authorities.

Jamaican Prime Minister the statesman said: "I realize that there are numerous residents who are concerned, who are very concerned, and appropriately: you should be concerned.

"However the optimal approach to address worry and any unease and worry is to be prepared."

Inhabitants are being instructed to fortify their houses with sand barriers and plywood sheets, and to accumulate necessary supplies.

Regional Consequences

Warnings are also ongoing for regions of Haiti encompassing the primary urban center, the Dominican Republic and Cuba's eastern region, where the hurricane is expected to bring analogous consequences by the middle portion of the coming week.

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

Expected Path

The hurricane is forecast to move across Cuba by the middle of the week before traveling via the Greater Antilles and emerging into the Atlantic.

By the point it reaches the Caribbean nation, it is forecast to have diminished to a category three storm.

Environmental Background

Even though it is hard to associate specific storms to global warming, experts say it is resulting in meteorological events more common and more extreme.

Increased sea temperatures produce greater water vapor in the environment, aiding in the creation of storms.

Before the beginning of the current Atlantic hurricane season, meteorological authorities predicted increased storm frequency, mentioning heated marine conditions and potential stronger monsoon activity around the western African continent - where tropical systems typically originate.