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Hurricane Melissa is projected to become a rare category five cyclone as it veers in the direction of the Caribbean island, causing deadly rapid inundation and mudslides.

This weather system, which had winds of up to 195 km/h as of 0600 Greenwich Mean Time, is now shifting north-west in the Caribbean Sea and is expected to reach land by midweek, based on data from hurricane specialists.

Advisories of blackouts and structural damage have been released as Melissa produces up to thirty inches of precipitation and coastal flooding as high as thirteen feet above ground. "Seek shelter now," inhabitants have been urged.

Melissa is the 13th hurricane in the ongoing Atlantic storm period, which normally finishes in late autumn.

Most Intense Cyclone Risk

A Category 5 storm is the most intense classification, with winds of at least 157mph.

Although Melissa is set to reduce in intensity to a fourth-level hurricane before reaching Jamaica, authorities said there was "almost no noticeable change in the overall impacts" upon making contact with land, and that the cyclone will be "equally strong" when it impacts the island.

Urgent Readiness Measures

With tropical storm-strength gusts and precipitation predicted to begin well before it passes over Jamaica's central region - possibly even the city of Kingston - advisories state that "preparations should be rushed to completion".

"Several days of damaging winds and heavy rainfall has started and will cause catastrophic and life-threatening sudden floods and multiple mudslides," counseled meteorological officials.

The nation's leader Andrew Holness said: "I know that there are many Jamaicans who are concerned, who are extremely apprehensive, and with good reason: you should be concerned.

"Yet the most effective method to address nervousness and any apprehension and worry is to be prepared."

Residents are being instructed to secure their homes with sand barriers and plywood sheets, and to accumulate essentials.

Wider Consequences

Warnings are also in effect for regions of the neighboring country such as the main city, Port au Prince, the neighboring country and eastern Cuba, where this storm is expected to bring analogous consequences by the middle portion of the coming week.

Landslides already being caused by the storm have caused two deaths in Haiti, according to the nation's Civil Protection agency.

Projected Course

Melissa is forecast to pass over the island nation by Wednesday before moving through the Greater Antilles and entering the Atlantic.

By the time it makes contact with Cuba, it is predicted to have reduced to a Category 3 storm.

Weather Context

While it is hard to link individual weather events to global warming, researchers say it is causing meteorological events increasingly frequent and more intense.

Higher ocean heat create more moisture in the air, helping fuel the development of storms.

Before the beginning of the current Atlantic hurricane season, climate agencies projected above-normal activity, mentioning elevated ocean temperatures and likely more intense weather patterns around African coastal regions - where hurricanes typically originate.