🔗 Share this article

Tropical Storm Melissa is forecast to become a rare highest-level cyclone as it shifts towards the Caribbean island, bringing deadly sudden floods and landslides.

This weather system, which had winds of up to 195 km/h as of 06:00 GMT, is presently veering north-west in the Caribbean Sea and is anticipated to hit the coast by Tuesday, according to meteorological authorities.

Advisories of electricity outages and damage to infrastructure have been issued as Melissa brings up to 30 inches of rainfall and coastal flooding as high as 13ft above normal levels. "Seek shelter now," locals have been urged.

This hurricane is the thirteenth hurricane in this year's Atlantic season, which usually concludes in November.

Category Five Storm Risk

A Category 5 storm is the most intense classification, with winds of at least 157mph.

Even though this storm is expected to diminish in strength to a category four hurricane before reaching Jamaica, meteorologists said there was "minimal real distinction in the general consequences" upon making contact with land, and that the hurricane will be "just as powerful" when it strikes the island.

Critical Readiness Measures

With tropical storm-level wind and rainfall predicted to begin ahead of it passes over Jamaica's central region - including potentially the capital, Kingston - alerts indicate that "safety measures need to be finalized quickly".

"A multi-day period of harmful winds and intense precipitation are underway and will cause devastating and dangerous rapid water accumulation and many rock slides," urged meteorological officials.

The country's head of government the statesman stated: "I realize that there are countless citizens who are anxious, who are deeply troubled, and appropriately: worry is natural.

"However the best way to manage anxiety and any unease and anxiety is to remain prepared."

Locals are being instructed to protect their properties with sandbags and wooden boards, and to accumulate necessary supplies.

Broader Impact

Warnings are also in effect for parts of Haiti encompassing the primary urban center, the Dominican Republic and Cuba's eastern region, where this storm is expected to bring similar effects by the midweek period.

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

Future Path

Melissa is forecast to move across Cuba by the middle of the week before moving through the Antillas Mayores and entering the open ocean.

By the point it arrives at the Caribbean nation, it is forecast to have diminished to a category three cyclone.

Climate Connection

While it is challenging to link individual weather events to environmental shifts, experts say it is causing climate patterns more common and more extreme.

Higher ocean heat generate more moisture in the air, aiding in the development of hurricanes.

Ahead of the commencement of this season's Caribbean cyclone season, weather organizations predicted higher-than-average occurrence, citing elevated ocean temperatures and possible stronger monsoon activity around the western African continent - where tropical systems frequently develop.