Tropical Storm the storm Intensifies As It Moves Towards the Island Nation

Tropical Storm Melissa is predicted to escalate to a rare highest-level storm as it veers toward the Caribbean island, bringing deadly flash flooding and landslides.

The hurricane, which had wind speeds of up to 120 mph as of 0600 Greenwich Mean Time, is currently turning northwest in the Caribbean and is expected to reach land by Tuesday, based on data from meteorological authorities.

Alerts of power cuts and structural damage have been released as the hurricane generates up to 76cm of rain and coastal flooding as high as 4m above ground. "Take cover without delay," inhabitants have been told.

The cyclone is the 13th named hurricane in the ongoing Atlantic hurricane season, which usually concludes in the eleventh month.

Category Five Storm Risk

A category five hurricane is the most intense classification, with wind speeds of at least 157 miles per hour.

Although the hurricane is expected to weaken to a fourth-level cyclone before arriving at the island, authorities said there was "almost no noticeable change in the overall impacts" upon reaching the coast, and that the hurricane will be "equally strong" when it impacts the nation.

Urgent Safety Steps

With tropical storm-level wind and rainfall predicted to begin ahead of it passes over Jamaica's central region - perhaps encompassing the city of Kingston - alerts state that "safety measures need to be finalized quickly".

"A multi-day period of destructive gusts and intense precipitation has started and will cause devastating and dangerous flash flooding and multiple landslides," counseled climate experts.

The country's head of government the statesman commented: "I know that there are numerous residents who are worried, who are extremely apprehensive, and rightfully so: worry is natural.

"Yet the most effective method to manage worry and any unease and worry is to stay ready."

Inhabitants are being told to fortify their houses with protective bags and plywood sheets, and to accumulate basic necessities.

Wider Impact

Warnings are also in effect for parts of Haiti encompassing the main city, Port au Prince, the adjacent nation and Cuba's eastern region, where this storm is expected to bring comparable impacts by the middle of next week.

Landslides currently triggered by the cyclone have resulted in two fatalities in Haiti, according to local authorities.

Projected Trajectory

This weather system is forecast to pass over Cuba by the middle of the week before moving through the Caribbean archipelago and out into the Atlantic.

By the moment it makes contact with Cuba, it is anticipated to have weakened to a third-level cyclone.

Climate Connection

Although it is hard to link particular meteorological occurrences to climate change, scientists say it is causing weather phenomena increasingly frequent and more intense.

Warmer oceans produce additional humidity in the environment, helping fuel the formation of storms.

Prior to the commencement of this season's Caribbean cyclone season, climate agencies predicted higher-than-average occurrence, mentioning heated marine conditions and likely more intense weather patterns around West Africa - where tropical systems often form.