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Tropical Storm Melissa is forecast to escalate to a infrequent category five cyclone as it turns in the direction of the Caribbean island, causing deadly flash flooding and mudslides.

The cyclone, which had wind speeds of up to 195 km/h as of 0600 Greenwich Mean Time, is presently veering north-west in the Caribbean Sea and is projected to hit the coast by midweek, based on data from hurricane specialists.

Advisories of electricity outages and structural damage have been issued as the hurricane brings up to 30 inches 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 this year's Atlantic hurricane season, which typically ends in the eleventh month.

Highest-Level Hurricane Risk

A highest-level storm is the most intense classification, with wind speeds of at least 157mph.

Even though this storm is expected to diminish in strength to a category four cyclone before making landfall on the island, meteorologists said there was "almost no noticeable change in the total effects" upon landfall, and that the hurricane will be "just as powerful" when it strikes the island.

Urgent Readiness Measures

With storm-force winds and rain anticipated well in advance long before it moves across central Jamaica - possibly even the city of Kingston - warnings state that "safety measures need to be finalized quickly".

"A multi-day period of damaging winds and heavy rainfall have begun and will cause devastating and dangerous sudden floods and numerous rock slides," counseled meteorological officials.

Jamaican Prime Minister the statesman said: "I know that there are countless citizens who are worried, who are extremely apprehensive, and rightfully so: worry is natural.

"However the best way to manage anxiety and any nervousness and concern is to remain prepared."

Residents are being told to fortify their houses with sandbags and plywood sheets, and to gather necessary supplies.

Broader Consequences

Alerts are also ongoing for regions of Haiti such as the main city, Port au Prince, the Dominican Republic and eastern Cuba, where Melissa is expected to bring analogous consequences by the middle of next week.

Rock slides presently generated by the hurricane have resulted in two fatalities in the country, according to emergency services.

Future Course

Melissa is predicted to cross the island nation by midweek before passing across the Caribbean archipelago and emerging into the Atlantic Ocean.

By the point it makes contact with the Caribbean nation, it is forecast to have diminished to a category three cyclone.

Weather Context

Even though it is hard to connect individual weather events to climate change, researchers say it is causing meteorological events more common and more severe.

Higher ocean heat create greater water vapor in the air, aiding in the creation of tropical cyclones.

Prior to the commencement of the current Atlantic storm period, meteorological authorities forecast higher-than-average occurrence, citing elevated ocean temperatures and potential enhanced seasonal rains around the western African continent - where Atlantic storms typically originate.