🔗 Share this article Hurricane Melissa Grows Stronger As It Moves Toward the Island Nation The hurricane has already affected nearby countries Tropical Storm the storm is projected to escalate to a uncommon highest-level hurricane as it turns in the direction of Jamaica, delivering deadly flash flooding and mudslides. This weather system, which registered wind speeds of up to 120 mph as of 06:00 GMT, is currently turning north-west in the Caribbean region and is anticipated to reach land by early next week, according to hurricane specialists. Advisories of electricity outages and disruption to utilities have been announced as this storm brings up to 30 inches of precipitation and sea level surges as high as 4m above ground. "Find safe refuge immediately," inhabitants have been told. Melissa is the 13th cyclone in this year's Atlantic hurricane season, which typically ends in November. Category Five Cyclone Risk A highest-level hurricane is the most powerful category, with sustained winds of at least 157mph. Even though this storm is set to weaken to a category four hurricane before making landfall on Jamaica, meteorologists said there was "almost no noticeable change in the overall impacts" upon making contact with land, and that the cyclone will be "at least that intensity" when it strikes the island. Urgent Safety Steps With storm-force wind and rainfall already expected ahead of it moves across the island's interior - including potentially the city of Kingston - warnings state that "readiness efforts must be accelerated". "Several days of harmful winds and intense precipitation have begun and will cause catastrophic and life-threatening rapid water accumulation and multiple mudslides," advised meteorological officials. Jamaican Prime Minister the statesman commented: "I understand that there are countless citizens who are anxious, who are deeply troubled, and with good reason: worry is natural. "Yet the best way to address worry and any unease and worry is to remain prepared." Residents are being told to protect their properties with sand barriers and timber panels, and to gather essentials. Wider Impact Alerts are also in effect for parts of Haiti encompassing the primary urban center, the Dominican Republic and eastern Cuba, where this storm is expected to bring comparable impacts by the middle of next week. Landslides already being caused by the cyclone have resulted in two fatalities in Haiti, according to local authorities. Expected Course This weather system is projected to cross Cuba by midweek before moving through the Caribbean archipelago and emerging into the Atlantic Ocean. By the moment it makes contact with the Caribbean nation, it is anticipated to have diminished to a category three hurricane. Environmental Background Even though it is hard to connect individual weather events to climate change, experts say it is causing climate patterns more prevalent and more extreme. Warmer oceans create greater water vapor in the environment, contributing to the creation of storms. Before the start of this season's Atlantic storm period, meteorological authorities forecast increased storm frequency, referencing heated marine conditions and likely stronger monsoon activity around West Africa - where tropical systems typically originate.