🔗 Share this article Hurricane Melissa Grows Stronger While Heads Toward the Island Nation The hurricane has struck Haiti and the Dominican Republic Hurricane the storm is forecast to become a infrequent highest-level storm as it shifts towards Jamaica, bringing deadly flash flooding and landslides. The hurricane, which had winds of up to 120 miles per hour as of 6:00 AM GMT, is presently veering toward the northwest in the Caribbean and is anticipated to hit the coast by midweek, according to weather experts. Alerts of blackouts and structural damage have been released as the hurricane brings up to 76cm of rain and sea level surges as high as 13ft above normal levels. "Find safe refuge immediately," locals have been advised. The cyclone is the thirteenth storm in the current Atlantic season, which typically ends in late autumn. Highest-Level Cyclone Danger A Category 5 hurricane is the most intense classification, with winds of at least 157 miles per hour. Although Melissa is expected to weaken to a category four cyclone before arriving at the island, meteorologists said there was "very little practical difference in the overall impacts" upon making contact with land, and that the cyclone will be "at least that intensity" when it hits the country. Urgent Safety Steps With storm-force winds and rain already expected long before it crosses Jamaica's central region - including potentially the national capital - alerts state that "preparations should be rushed to completion". "Several days of damaging winds and intense precipitation are underway and will cause severe and deadly sudden floods and numerous mudslides," urged weather authorities. The nation's leader the statesman said: "I understand that there are countless citizens who are anxious, who are deeply troubled, and appropriately: you should be concerned. "But the optimal approach to handle nervousness and any nervousness and worry is to stay ready." Locals are being advised to protect their properties with sandbags and plywood sheets, and to accumulate basic necessities. Regional Impact Alerts are also active for parts of the neighboring country encompassing the primary urban center, the neighboring country and Cuba's eastern region, where Melissa is expected to bring analogous consequences by the midweek period. Mudslides presently generated by the cyclone have already killed two in Haiti, according to emergency services. Projected Course This weather system is predicted to cross the island nation by Wednesday before traveling via the Caribbean archipelago and out into the Atlantic. By the time it arrives at the Caribbean nation, it is anticipated to have reduced to a category three cyclone. Environmental Context While it is difficult to connect specific storms to climate change, scientists say it is causing climate patterns increasingly frequent and more extreme. Higher ocean heat produce additional humidity in the air, helping fuel the creation of storms. Ahead of the start of the current Atlantic hurricane season, weather organizations projected above-normal activity, mentioning elevated ocean temperatures and possible stronger monsoon activity around West Africa - where hurricanes frequently develop.