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Tropical Storm Melissa is projected to strengthen into a infrequent Category 5 hurricane as it turns towards Jamaica, delivering life-threatening rapid inundation and mudslides.

This weather system, which had winds of up to 195 km/h as of 6:00 AM GMT, is presently veering north-west in the Caribbean Sea and is expected to hit the coast by midweek, according to meteorological authorities.

Advisories of electricity outages and disruption to utilities have been issued as the hurricane generates up to 30 inches of rainfall and coastal flooding as high as 13ft above normal levels. "Find safe refuge immediately," residents have been advised.

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

Category Five Cyclone Threat

A category five storm is the most powerful category, with winds of at least 252 km/h.

Even though Melissa is set to reduce in intensity to a category four cyclone before arriving at the island, experts said there was "minimal real distinction in the total effects" upon making contact with land, and that the cyclone will be "just as powerful" when it hits the nation.

Immediate Safety Steps

With tropical storm-strength gusts and precipitation predicted to begin long before it moves across central Jamaica - including potentially the city of Kingston - warnings indicate that "readiness efforts must be accelerated".

"An extended timeframe of damaging winds and intense precipitation has started and will cause devastating and dangerous sudden floods and numerous landslides," counseled weather authorities.

The nation's leader Andrew Holness said: "I know that there are countless citizens who are anxious, who are extremely apprehensive, and rightfully so: worry is natural.

"However the best way to manage worry and any unease and anxiety is to stay ready."

Inhabitants are being advised to fortify their houses with sandbags and wooden boards, and to stock up on essentials.

Wider Impact

Warnings are also in effect for parts of Haiti including the primary urban center, the neighboring country and the eastern part of Cuba, where Melissa is expected to bring comparable impacts by the midweek period.

Landslides currently triggered by the storm have caused two deaths in the country, according to the nation's Civil Protection agency.

Projected Course

Melissa is projected to pass over Cuba by midweek before moving through the Caribbean archipelago and entering the Atlantic Ocean.

By the time it reaches the Caribbean nation, it is forecast to have weakened to a category three cyclone.

Weather Background

Although it is challenging to associate particular meteorological occurrences to environmental shifts, scientists say it is resulting in climate patterns increasingly frequent and more severe.

Higher ocean heat create additional humidity in the environment, helping fuel the development of storms.

Ahead of the beginning of this season's Caribbean cyclone season, meteorological authorities forecast increased storm frequency, referencing warmer seas and likely stronger monsoon activity around the western African continent - where hurricanes frequently develop.