Cyclone the storm Grows Stronger While Heads In the Direction of Jamaica
Cyclone Melissa is projected to escalate to a infrequent category five cyclone as it shifts towards Jamaica, bringing deadly sudden floods and mudslides.
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 and is projected to make landfall by early next week, based on data from meteorological authorities.
Advisories of electricity outages and disruption to utilities have been released as this storm generates up to thirty inches of precipitation and sea level surges as high as 4m above normal levels. "Find safe refuge immediately," residents have been advised.
Melissa is the thirteenth hurricane in the ongoing Atlantic season, which typically ends in late autumn.
Highest-Level Hurricane Danger
A Category 5 cyclone is the most powerful category, with winds of at least 252 km/h.
Although the hurricane is set to diminish in strength to a category four cyclone before making landfall on Jamaica, authorities said there was "minimal real distinction in the overall impacts" upon reaching the coast, and that the storm will be "equally strong" when it hits the island.
Critical Preparations
With storm-force wind and rainfall already expected ahead of it passes over central Jamaica - including potentially the city of Kingston - alerts indicate that "safety measures need to be finalized quickly".
"Several days of destructive gusts and heavy rainfall are underway and will cause devastating and dangerous rapid water accumulation and many landslides," advised climate experts.
The nation's leader Andrew Holness commented: "I understand that there are countless citizens who are anxious, who are extremely apprehensive, and with good reason: you should be concerned.
"Yet the optimal approach to address anxiety and any unease and worry is to stay ready."
Residents are being told to fortify their houses with sandbags and wooden boards, and to gather essentials.
Broader Impact
Advisories are also in effect for regions of Haiti encompassing the main city, Port au Prince, the adjacent nation and Cuba's eastern region, where the hurricane is anticipated to bring similar effects by the middle of next week.
Landslides currently triggered by the storm have resulted in two fatalities in the country, according to the nation's Civil Protection agency.
Projected Course
Melissa is forecast to pass over Cuba by the middle of the week before moving through the Greater Antilles and emerging into the Atlantic.
By the time it arrives at Cuba, it is anticipated to have diminished to a category three hurricane.
Environmental Background
While it is hard to connect particular meteorological occurrences to global warming, scientists say it is making climate patterns more common and more severe.
Higher ocean heat generate more moisture in the air, helping fuel the development of hurricanes.
Before the beginning of this year's Atlantic storm period, weather organizations forecast above-normal activity, citing warmer seas and likely stronger monsoon activity around African coastal regions - where hurricanes frequently develop.
