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Hurricane the storm is forecast to become a rare Category 5 storm as it veers toward the Caribbean island, delivering deadly sudden floods and landslides.

This weather system, which recorded winds of up to 195 km/h as of 6:00 AM GMT, is now shifting northwest in the Caribbean Sea and is projected to make landfall by early next week, as reported by weather experts.

Advisories of blackouts and disruption to utilities have been announced as the hurricane brings up to 76cm of rain and coastal flooding as high as 4m above normal levels. "Find safe refuge immediately," locals have been told.

This hurricane is the 13th named storm in the current Atlantic storm period, which typically ends in late autumn.

Category Five Storm Danger

A category five storm is the most intense classification, with sustained winds of at least 157mph.

While Melissa is projected to diminish in strength to a category four storm before arriving at Jamaica, meteorologists said there was "almost no noticeable change in the total effects" upon reaching the coast, and that the storm will be "at least that intensity" when it strikes the nation.

Critical Safety Steps

With storm-force winds and rain predicted to begin long before it moves across Jamaica's central region - perhaps encompassing the city of Kingston - advisories indicate that "preparations should be rushed to completion".

"Several days of harmful winds and torrential rain have begun and will cause devastating and dangerous sudden floods and many rock slides," counseled climate experts.

Jamaican Prime Minister the statesman commented: "I know that there are countless citizens who are worried, who are deeply troubled, and with good reason: worry is natural.

"But the optimal approach to manage nervousness and any nervousness and worry is to be prepared."

Inhabitants are being advised to secure their homes with protective bags and wooden boards, and to accumulate essentials.

Broader Consequences

Alerts are also active for regions of the neighboring country including the primary urban center, the adjacent nation and eastern Cuba, where this storm is expected to bring comparable impacts by the midweek period.

Mudslides already being caused by the cyclone have resulted in two fatalities in Haiti, according to local authorities.

Future Path

The hurricane is projected to cross the island nation by midweek before passing across the Caribbean archipelago and out into the Atlantic.

By the point it arrives at Cuba, it is anticipated to have weakened to a Category 3 storm.

Weather Context

Even though it is challenging to associate specific storms to environmental shifts, scientists say it is resulting in weather phenomena more common and more extreme.

Increased sea temperatures produce greater water vapor in the atmosphere, helping fuel the creation of hurricanes.

Before the beginning of this year's Atlantic hurricane season, weather organizations predicted above-normal activity, mentioning elevated ocean temperatures and potential enhanced seasonal rains around West Africa - where hurricanes frequently develop.