Cyclone Melissa Gains Power While Heads Towards Jamaica

Hurricane the storm is predicted to escalate to a infrequent category five hurricane as it shifts towards Jamaica, causing dangerous rapid inundation and landslides.

This weather system, which had winds of up to 120 mph as of 0600 Greenwich Mean Time, is now shifting north-west in the Caribbean region and is expected to reach land by midweek, according to hurricane specialists.

Advisories of electricity outages and disruption to utilities have been announced as the hurricane produces up to 76cm of precipitation and coastal flooding as high as 13ft above typical tides. "Take cover without delay," locals have been advised.

Melissa is the 13th named cyclone in the current Atlantic season, which usually concludes in late autumn.

Highest-Level Cyclone Danger

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

Although the hurricane is set to diminish in strength to a Category 4 storm before reaching Jamaica, meteorologists said there was "minimal real distinction in the overall impacts" upon reaching the coast, and that the hurricane will be "equally strong" when it impacts the country.

Urgent Readiness Measures

With tropical storm-level gusts and precipitation anticipated well in advance long before it crosses central Jamaica - possibly even the city of Kingston - warnings indicate that "safety measures need to be finalized quickly".

"Several days of damaging winds and torrential rain are underway and will cause devastating and dangerous flash flooding and numerous mudslides," counseled climate experts.

The nation's leader Andrew Holness stated: "I understand that there are countless citizens who are worried, who are deeply troubled, and appropriately: concern is justified.

"But the optimal approach to handle anxiety and any apprehension and worry is to remain prepared."

Locals are being advised to protect their properties with sandbags and plywood sheets, and to gather necessary supplies.

Broader Effects

Advisories are also ongoing for parts of the neighboring country encompassing the capital, Port au Prince, the adjacent nation and the eastern part of Cuba, where Melissa is projected to bring similar effects by the midweek period.

Rock slides currently triggered by the cyclone have resulted in two fatalities in the country, according to the nation's Civil Protection agency.

Expected Path

The hurricane is projected to move across Cuba by midweek before traveling via the Greater Antilles and entering the open ocean.

By the point it arrives at the Caribbean nation, it is predicted to have diminished to a Category 3 cyclone.

Climate Context

While it is hard to connect specific storms to climate change, researchers say it is making climate patterns increasingly frequent and more severe.

Increased sea temperatures create more moisture in the atmosphere, contributing to the formation of hurricanes.

Before the beginning of the current Atlantic hurricane season, weather organizations projected increased storm frequency, referencing elevated ocean temperatures and possible more intense weather patterns around the western African continent - where Atlantic storms frequently develop.