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Tropical Storm the storm is predicted to strengthen into a rare category five hurricane as it veers towards Jamaica, bringing dangerous rapid inundation and rock falls.

The hurricane, which recorded wind speeds of up to 120 miles per hour as of 06:00 GMT, is now shifting toward the northwest in the Caribbean and is expected to reach land by Tuesday, as reported by weather experts.

Alerts of power cuts and disruption to utilities have been announced as this storm brings up to 30 inches of rainfall and sea level surges as high as 4m above normal levels. "Seek shelter now," inhabitants have been urged.

Melissa is the 13th named storm in this year's Atlantic season, which normally finishes in the eleventh month.

Highest-Level Cyclone Danger

A Category 5 hurricane is the most intense classification, with winds of at least 252 km/h.

Although this storm is set to weaken to a fourth-level storm before making landfall on Jamaica, meteorologists said there was "almost no noticeable change in the general consequences" upon landfall, and that the hurricane will be "equally strong" when it strikes the nation.

Critical Safety Steps

With tropical storm-level wind and rainfall predicted to begin ahead of it crosses central Jamaica - perhaps encompassing the capital, Kingston - warnings emphasize that "safety measures need to be finalized quickly".

"A multi-day period of harmful winds and torrential rain has started and will cause severe and deadly flash flooding and multiple landslides," advised climate experts.

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness said: "I realize that there are countless citizens who are anxious, who are extremely apprehensive, and rightfully so: you should be concerned.

"However the optimal approach to address worry and any unease and worry is to remain prepared."

Residents are being advised to fortify their houses with sandbags and plywood sheets, and to gather essentials.

Wider Effects

Advisories are also ongoing for parts of Haiti including the primary urban center, the Dominican Republic and eastern Cuba, where the hurricane is projected to bring analogous consequences by the midweek period.

Mudslides presently generated by the storm have already killed two in the country, according to the nation's Civil Protection agency.

Projected Course

This weather system is forecast to cross the island nation by midweek before moving through the Antillas Mayores and out into the Atlantic.

By the time it arrives at the Caribbean nation, it is predicted to have reduced to a third-level hurricane.

Weather Connection

Even though it is hard to associate particular meteorological occurrences to global warming, researchers say it is causing meteorological events more common and more intense.

Warmer oceans create greater water vapor in the atmosphere, helping fuel the formation of storms.

Ahead of the start of this year's Atlantic hurricane season, meteorological authorities predicted higher-than-average occurrence, referencing warmer seas and possible more intense weather patterns around West Africa - where tropical systems typically originate.