🔗 Share this article

Cyclone Melissa is projected to strengthen into a rare category five hurricane as it turns in the direction of Jamaica, causing deadly rapid inundation and rock falls.

The cyclone, which registered wind speeds of up to 120 miles per hour as of 6:00 AM GMT, is presently veering north-west in the Caribbean and is expected to hit the coast by early next week, based on data from meteorological authorities.

Advisories of electricity outages and damage to infrastructure have been announced as the hurricane produces up to 76cm of rainfall and sea level surges as high as 4m above ground. "Take cover without delay," inhabitants have been told.

This hurricane is the 13th named hurricane in the ongoing Atlantic season, which typically ends in late autumn.

Highest-Level Storm Risk

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

Although Melissa is set to weaken to a fourth-level hurricane before making landfall on Jamaica, experts said there was "very little practical difference in the overall impacts" upon reaching the coast, and that the storm will be "equally strong" when it hits the nation.

Urgent Preparations

With tropical storm-level wind and rainfall anticipated well in advance long before it passes over central Jamaica - possibly even the national capital - alerts indicate that "preparations should be rushed to completion".

"A multi-day period of damaging winds and torrential rain has started and will cause catastrophic and life-threatening rapid water accumulation and many rock slides," urged climate experts.

The nation's leader Andrew Holness said: "I understand that there are countless citizens who are anxious, who are deeply troubled, and rightfully so: worry is natural.

"However the best way to manage anxiety and any nervousness and worry is to be prepared."

Inhabitants are being told to secure their homes with sandbags and timber panels, and to gather basic necessities.

Broader Consequences

Advisories are also in effect for parts of the neighboring country such as the primary urban center, the adjacent nation and the eastern part of Cuba, where the hurricane is projected to bring analogous consequences by the middle portion of the coming week.

Rock slides currently triggered by the storm have resulted in two fatalities in Haiti, according to emergency services.

Expected Course

The hurricane is predicted to cross the island nation by midweek before moving through the Antillas Mayores and emerging into the Atlantic.

By the point it reaches the Caribbean nation, it is predicted to have diminished to a third-level cyclone.

Environmental Background

Even though it is hard to link specific storms to environmental shifts, scientists say it is resulting in meteorological events more common and more extreme.

Warmer oceans generate greater water vapor in the environment, contributing to the development of tropical cyclones.

Prior to the commencement of this year's Atlantic hurricane season, weather organizations projected higher-than-average occurrence, mentioning warmer seas and potential enhanced seasonal rains around African coastal regions - where Atlantic storms typically originate.