🔗 Share this article

Hurricane Melissa is forecast to become a uncommon category five cyclone as it turns toward Jamaica, delivering deadly rapid inundation and landslides.

This weather system, which registered winds of up to 195 km/h as of 0600 Greenwich Mean Time, is currently turning north-west in the Caribbean and is expected to hit the coast by Tuesday, as reported by weather experts.

Alerts of electricity outages and damage to infrastructure have been issued as the hurricane generates up to 30 inches of rain and storm surges as high as thirteen feet above ground. "Find safe refuge immediately," inhabitants have been advised.

The cyclone is the thirteenth cyclone in the ongoing Atlantic storm period, which typically ends in November.

Most Intense Cyclone Danger

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

Although this storm is set to diminish in strength to a category four hurricane before reaching Jamaica, meteorologists said there was "very little practical difference in the overall impacts" upon landfall, and that the storm will be "equally strong" when it impacts the island.

Critical Preparations

With tropical storm-strength wind and rainfall anticipated well in advance ahead of it passes over the island's interior - possibly even the national capital - alerts emphasize that "safety measures need to be finalized quickly".

"Several days of harmful winds and intense precipitation has started and will cause severe and deadly flash flooding and numerous mudslides," advised climate experts.

The nation's leader Andrew Holness commented: "I realize that there are many Jamaicans who are worried, who are deeply troubled, and with good reason: you should be concerned.

"But the optimal approach to manage nervousness and any nervousness and concern is to be prepared."

Locals are being told to fortify their houses with sandbags and timber panels, and to stock up on basic necessities.

Regional Consequences

Advisories are also active for areas in the neighboring country such as the capital, Port au Prince, the neighboring country and Cuba's eastern region, where Melissa is projected to bring analogous consequences by the midweek period.

Mudslides already being caused by the cyclone have already killed two in the country, according to the nation's Civil Protection agency.

Projected Course

Melissa is forecast to move across Cuba by Wednesday before passing across the Caribbean archipelago and entering the open ocean.

By the point it arrives at Cuba, it is anticipated to have diminished to a third-level hurricane.

Environmental Connection

Although it is difficult to link particular meteorological occurrences to global warming, experts say it is making climate patterns more prevalent and more intense.

Higher ocean heat generate additional humidity in the atmosphere, helping fuel the formation of tropical cyclones.

Ahead of the start of this year's Atlantic storm period, weather organizations forecast higher-than-average occurrence, citing elevated ocean temperatures and potential more intense weather patterns around African coastal regions - where Atlantic storms frequently develop.