🔗 Share this article

Cyclone the storm is forecast to strengthen into a infrequent category five cyclone as it veers toward Jamaica, bringing deadly rapid inundation and landslides.

This weather system, which recorded wind speeds of up to 195 km/h as of 0600 Greenwich Mean Time, is currently turning northwest in the Caribbean and is expected to reach land by Tuesday, according to hurricane specialists.

Advisories of electricity outages and disruption to utilities have been announced as this storm produces up to 76cm of rainfall and storm surges as high as 4m above ground. "Seek shelter now," residents have been told.

The cyclone is the 13th named cyclone in the current Atlantic storm period, which usually concludes in the eleventh month.

Most Intense Hurricane Threat

A Category 5 cyclone is the most powerful category, with wind speeds of at least 157 miles per hour.

Even though Melissa is expected to weaken to a category four hurricane before arriving at Jamaica, meteorologists said there was "almost no noticeable change in the total effects" upon making contact with land, and that the hurricane will be "at least that intensity" when it hits the country.

Urgent Safety Steps

With storm-force wind and rainfall anticipated well in advance well before it crosses central Jamaica - perhaps encompassing the city of Kingston - alerts emphasize that "readiness efforts must be accelerated".

"A multi-day period of destructive gusts and intense precipitation have begun and will cause catastrophic and life-threatening rapid water accumulation and many rock slides," urged meteorological officials.

The country's head of government Andrew Holness said: "I understand that there are numerous residents who are anxious, who are extremely apprehensive, and rightfully so: concern is justified.

"However the optimal approach to address anxiety and any apprehension and concern is to stay ready."

Inhabitants are being advised to fortify their houses with sand barriers and timber panels, and to stock up on essentials.

Regional Consequences

Warnings are also active for regions of the neighboring country encompassing the main city, Port au Prince, the adjacent nation and eastern Cuba, where the hurricane is projected to bring similar effects by the middle portion of the coming week.

Rock slides presently generated by the cyclone have resulted in two fatalities in the country, according to local authorities.

Expected Path

This weather system is forecast to cross the island nation by the middle of the week before passing across the Greater Antilles and entering the Atlantic Ocean.

By the moment it makes contact with the Caribbean nation, it is predicted to have weakened to a third-level cyclone.

Environmental Connection

Although it is difficult to associate individual weather events to global warming, researchers say it is resulting in meteorological events more common and more extreme.

Increased sea temperatures generate additional humidity in the atmosphere, helping fuel the creation of tropical cyclones.

Ahead of the start of this year's Atlantic storm period, weather organizations projected increased storm frequency, citing heated marine conditions and possible enhanced seasonal rains around African coastal regions - where tropical systems typically originate.