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Tropical Storm Melissa is projected to become a rare category five hurricane as it turns in the direction of Jamaica, delivering deadly flash flooding and landslides.

This weather system, which had wind speeds of up to 120 miles per hour as of 0600 Greenwich Mean Time, is now shifting toward the northwest in the Caribbean Sea and is anticipated to hit the coast by early next week, based on data from weather experts.

Advisories of electricity outages and damage to infrastructure have been issued as this storm generates up to 30 inches of precipitation and sea level surges as high as thirteen feet above normal levels. "Take cover without delay," inhabitants have been told.

Melissa is the 13th cyclone in this year's Atlantic hurricane season, which normally finishes in the eleventh month.

Highest-Level Storm Risk

A Category 5 cyclone is the most intense classification, with winds of at least 252 km/h.

While this storm is set to weaken to a Category 4 hurricane before arriving at the island, experts said there was "almost no noticeable change in the overall impacts" upon landfall, and that the storm will be "at least that intensity" when it hits the island.

Critical Preparations

With storm-force winds and rain anticipated well in advance well before it passes over Jamaica's central region - perhaps encompassing the capital, Kingston - alerts indicate that "safety measures need to be finalized quickly".

"Several days of damaging winds and torrential rain has started and will cause catastrophic and life-threatening rapid water accumulation and many mudslides," counseled climate experts.

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness stated: "I understand that there are many Jamaicans who are anxious, who are very concerned, and with good reason: you should be concerned.

"But the best way to manage worry and any unease and anxiety is to be prepared."

Inhabitants are being advised to secure their homes with sand barriers and plywood sheets, and to stock up on basic necessities.

Regional Impact

Warnings are also in effect for regions of Haiti including the primary urban center, the adjacent nation and Cuba's eastern region, where the hurricane is anticipated to bring analogous consequences by the midweek period.

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

Future Course

The hurricane is forecast to move across Cuba by the middle of the week before traveling via the Antillas Mayores and entering the Atlantic.

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

Environmental Connection

Although it is hard to associate specific storms to environmental shifts, experts say it is causing weather phenomena increasingly frequent and more intense.

Warmer oceans create additional humidity in the environment, contributing to the formation of hurricanes.

Prior to the commencement of this year's Caribbean cyclone season, weather organizations predicted increased storm frequency, referencing heated marine conditions and possible more intense weather patterns around West Africa - where Atlantic storms typically originate.