Tropical Storm the storm Grows Stronger While Heads Towards the Island Nation

Cyclone Melissa is projected to escalate to a infrequent highest-level cyclone as it veers towards the Caribbean island, delivering deadly rapid inundation and rock falls.

The hurricane, which recorded wind speeds of up to 120 miles per hour as of 6:00 AM GMT, is now shifting northwest in the Caribbean region and is expected to reach land by midweek, based on data from weather experts.

Warnings of blackouts and damage to infrastructure have been announced as this storm generates up to 76cm of rainfall and storm surges as high as 4m above ground. "Seek shelter now," locals have been advised.

The cyclone is the 13th named storm in the current Atlantic season, which normally finishes in late autumn.

Category Five Cyclone Risk

A highest-level cyclone is the strongest type, with wind speeds of at least 157 miles per hour.

While this storm is set to reduce in intensity to a Category 4 hurricane before arriving at Jamaica, meteorologists said there was "very little practical difference in the general consequences" upon landfall, and that the hurricane will be "equally strong" when it hits the island.

Critical Safety Steps

With tropical storm-level winds and rain anticipated well in advance ahead of it passes over Jamaica's central region - perhaps encompassing the city of Kingston - alerts state that "readiness efforts must be accelerated".

"A multi-day period of damaging winds and intense precipitation have begun and will cause catastrophic and life-threatening rapid water accumulation and many landslides," counseled climate experts.

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness stated: "I know that there are numerous residents who are worried, who are deeply troubled, and with good reason: concern is justified.

"However the optimal approach to manage nervousness and any apprehension and anxiety is to be prepared."

Inhabitants are being told to fortify their houses with sandbags and plywood sheets, and to accumulate essentials.

Broader Consequences

Advisories are also ongoing for parts of Haiti encompassing the primary urban center, the adjacent nation and eastern Cuba, where the hurricane is projected to bring comparable impacts by the middle of next week.

Rock slides currently triggered by the cyclone have caused two deaths in Haiti, according to the nation's Civil Protection agency.

Future Course

This weather system is predicted to pass over Cuba by the middle of the week before moving through the Antillas Mayores and emerging into the Atlantic Ocean.

By the point it makes contact with the Caribbean nation, it is forecast to have reduced to a category three cyclone.

Weather Background

Although it is challenging to link individual weather events to climate change, researchers say it is resulting in weather phenomena more common and more severe.

Higher ocean heat create additional humidity in the air, helping fuel the creation of tropical cyclones.

Before the start of this season's Atlantic hurricane season, meteorological authorities predicted increased storm frequency, mentioning heated marine conditions and likely stronger monsoon activity around African coastal regions - where tropical systems frequently develop.