🔗 Share this article

Cyclone the storm is projected to become a infrequent category five hurricane as it turns in the direction of the Caribbean island, bringing deadly sudden floods and mudslides.

This weather system, which registered wind speeds of up to 195 km/h as of 0600 Greenwich Mean Time, is currently turning north-west in the Caribbean region and is projected to make landfall by early next week, according to hurricane specialists.

Advisories of electricity outages and structural damage have been announced as this storm produces up to 76cm of rainfall and coastal flooding as high as 13ft above ground. "Take cover without delay," residents have been told.

This hurricane is the 13th hurricane in the current Atlantic season, which normally finishes in late autumn.

Most Intense Hurricane Threat

A Category 5 hurricane is the most powerful category, with wind speeds of at least 252 km/h.

While this storm is expected to reduce in intensity to a Category 4 hurricane before arriving at Jamaica, experts said there was "almost no noticeable change in the general consequences" upon making contact with land, and that the cyclone will be "just as powerful" when it strikes the nation.

Urgent Preparations

With storm-force gusts and precipitation predicted to begin ahead of it crosses the island's interior - including potentially the national capital - warnings emphasize that "readiness efforts must be accelerated".

"An extended timeframe of damaging winds and torrential rain has started and will cause catastrophic and life-threatening flash flooding and multiple rock slides," counseled meteorological officials.

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

"Yet the optimal approach to manage nervousness and any unease and anxiety is to stay ready."

Inhabitants are being advised to protect their properties with protective bags and timber panels, and to stock up on essentials.

Regional Consequences

Advisories are also active for parts of Haiti encompassing the main city, Port au Prince, the neighboring country and eastern Cuba, where Melissa is expected to bring analogous consequences by the middle portion of the coming week.

Rock slides presently generated by the storm have already killed two in Haiti, according to local authorities.

Expected Course

This weather system is predicted to pass over the island nation by midweek before passing across the Antillas Mayores and emerging into the open ocean.

By the moment it makes contact with the Caribbean nation, it is predicted to have diminished to a Category 3 cyclone.

Weather Background

Even though it is challenging to associate particular meteorological occurrences to environmental shifts, experts say it is causing climate patterns more prevalent and more severe.

Warmer oceans produce additional humidity in the environment, helping fuel the creation of storms.

Before the commencement of the current Atlantic storm period, meteorological authorities projected higher-than-average occurrence, mentioning elevated ocean temperatures and potential stronger monsoon activity around the western African continent - where tropical systems often form.