🔗 Share this article Cyclone Melissa Intensifies As It Moves Towards Jamaica The hurricane has impacted nearby countries Hurricane Melissa is predicted to strengthen into a infrequent Category 5 cyclone as it shifts towards Jamaica, bringing dangerous sudden floods and mudslides. The hurricane, which had wind speeds of up to 120 mph as of 0600 Greenwich Mean Time, is currently turning toward the northwest in the Caribbean Sea and is expected to hit the coast by midweek, based on data from weather experts. Alerts of blackouts and disruption to utilities have been issued as this storm brings up to 30 inches of precipitation and coastal flooding as high as 4m above normal levels. "Take cover without delay," residents have been advised. The cyclone is the thirteenth cyclone in the ongoing Atlantic season, which normally finishes in the eleventh month. Most Intense Storm Risk A category five storm is the most powerful category, with sustained winds of at least 157mph. While the hurricane is projected to weaken to a fourth-level hurricane before making landfall on the island, authorities said there was "almost no noticeable change in the total effects" upon landfall, and that the storm will be "at least that intensity" when it hits the nation. Immediate Preparations With storm-force winds and rain anticipated well in advance well before it crosses central Jamaica - perhaps encompassing the national capital - warnings indicate that "preparations should be rushed to completion". "An extended timeframe of harmful winds and intense precipitation have begun and will cause devastating and dangerous rapid water accumulation and multiple rock slides," urged climate experts. The country's head of government Andrew Holness said: "I know that there are numerous residents who are anxious, who are extremely apprehensive, and with good reason: you should be concerned. "Yet the best way to handle anxiety and any unease and anxiety is to remain prepared." Residents are being told to fortify their houses with protective bags and wooden boards, and to stock up on necessary supplies. Regional Impact Advisories are also ongoing for parts of the neighboring country such as the capital, Port au Prince, the adjacent nation and the eastern part of Cuba, where this storm is projected to bring comparable impacts by the middle of next week. Mudslides currently triggered by the hurricane have caused two deaths in the country, according to emergency services. Projected Path Melissa is predicted to move across the island nation by Wednesday before traveling via the Caribbean archipelago and entering the open ocean. By the moment it makes contact with the Caribbean nation, it is predicted to have weakened to a Category 3 hurricane. Climate Context While it is challenging to connect particular meteorological occurrences to global warming, experts say it is resulting in climate patterns increasingly frequent and more intense. Higher ocean heat create more moisture in the air, helping fuel the development of hurricanes. Ahead of the commencement of this season's Atlantic storm period, climate agencies forecast above-normal activity, referencing elevated ocean temperatures and potential more intense weather patterns around the western African continent - where tropical systems often form.