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Hurricane Melissa is projected to become a uncommon Category 5 hurricane as it turns toward the Caribbean island, delivering dangerous sudden floods and rock falls.

This weather system, which had wind speeds of up to 195 km/h as of 6:00 AM GMT, is presently veering northwest in the Caribbean Sea and is expected to hit the coast by Tuesday, as reported by hurricane specialists.

Advisories of electricity outages and disruption to utilities have been issued as Melissa generates up to thirty inches of rain and sea level surges as high as thirteen feet above normal levels. "Find safe refuge immediately," inhabitants have been told.

Melissa is the thirteenth cyclone in the current Atlantic season, which normally finishes in the eleventh month.

Category Five Storm Risk

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

While Melissa is set to reduce in intensity to a category four storm before reaching Jamaica, experts said there was "very little practical difference in the overall impacts" upon reaching the coast, and that the cyclone will be "at least that intensity" when it strikes the island.

Immediate Preparations

With tropical storm-strength wind and rainfall anticipated well in advance long before it crosses central Jamaica - including potentially the city of Kingston - warnings indicate that "preparations should be rushed to completion".

"A multi-day period of damaging winds and intense precipitation has started and will cause devastating and dangerous sudden floods and multiple mudslides," urged meteorological officials.

The nation's leader the statesman stated: "I understand that there are countless citizens who are worried, who are extremely apprehensive, and appropriately: you should be concerned.

"However the best way to handle nervousness and any nervousness and anxiety is to be prepared."

Locals are being instructed to protect their properties with protective bags and plywood sheets, and to gather necessary supplies.

Regional Effects

Warnings are also in effect for parts of the neighboring country including the main city, Port au Prince, the Dominican Republic and the eastern part of Cuba, where this storm is expected to bring similar effects by the middle of next week.

Rock slides presently generated by the cyclone have resulted in two fatalities in Haiti, according to the nation's Civil Protection agency.

Expected Course

The hurricane is forecast to cross Cuba by midweek before passing across the Greater Antilles and emerging into the open ocean.

By the moment it makes contact with Cuba, it is predicted to have diminished to a Category 3 hurricane.

Climate Context

Although it is difficult to link individual weather events to global warming, scientists say it is making climate patterns more common and more severe.

Warmer oceans generate more moisture in the air, contributing to the creation of storms.

Ahead of the commencement of this year's Atlantic hurricane season, weather organizations predicted above-normal activity, citing elevated ocean temperatures and possible stronger monsoon activity around African coastal regions - where Atlantic storms typically originate.