🔗 Share this article Cyclone Melissa Grows Stronger As It Barrels Toward the Island Nation The hurricane has struck neighboring nations Hurricane Melissa is forecast to become a rare category five cyclone as it veers towards Jamaica, delivering dangerous sudden floods and rock falls. The hurricane, which registered wind speeds of up to 120 mph as of 6:00 AM GMT, is now shifting toward the northwest in the Caribbean region and is expected to make landfall by midweek, as reported by hurricane specialists. Advisories of power cuts and structural damage have been issued as this storm generates up to thirty inches of rainfall and sea level surges as high as 4m above normal levels. "Find safe refuge immediately," inhabitants have been urged. The cyclone is the 13th storm in the current Atlantic hurricane season, which typically ends in the eleventh month. Category Five Hurricane Risk A highest-level cyclone is the most powerful category, with winds of at least 157 miles per hour. Although Melissa is projected to diminish in strength to a category four storm before arriving at Jamaica, authorities said there was "minimal real distinction in the overall impacts" upon reaching the coast, and that the hurricane will be "just as powerful" when it hits the nation. Critical Readiness Measures With tropical storm-level winds and rain predicted to begin long before it passes over central Jamaica - perhaps encompassing the national capital - alerts emphasize that "readiness efforts must be accelerated". "Several days of damaging winds and intense precipitation have begun and will cause devastating and dangerous rapid water accumulation and many mudslides," urged meteorological officials. The nation's leader the official stated: "I realize that there are countless citizens who are concerned, who are very concerned, and appropriately: concern is justified. "But the most effective method to handle nervousness and any nervousness and anxiety is to remain prepared." Inhabitants are being instructed to secure their homes with sandbags and plywood sheets, and to accumulate necessary supplies. Broader Consequences Warnings are also in effect for parts of Haiti including the capital, Port au Prince, the neighboring country and eastern Cuba, where the hurricane is expected to bring analogous consequences by the middle portion of the coming week. Mudslides currently triggered by the hurricane have resulted in two fatalities in the country, according to local authorities. Future Trajectory This weather system is predicted to cross the island nation by Wednesday before passing across the Caribbean archipelago and out into the open ocean. By the point it arrives at the Caribbean nation, it is forecast to have diminished to a Category 3 cyclone. Weather Context While it is difficult to connect individual weather events to climate change, experts say it is making meteorological events increasingly frequent and more extreme. Warmer oceans produce more moisture in the air, contributing to the formation of hurricanes. Ahead of the commencement of this season's Atlantic hurricane season, climate agencies forecast higher-than-average occurrence, mentioning heated marine conditions and likely more intense weather patterns around the western African continent - where tropical systems frequently develop.