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Cyclone Melissa is predicted to become a rare category five hurricane as it veers toward the Caribbean island, delivering deadly rapid inundation and mudslides.

The hurricane, which had wind speeds of up to 120 mph as of 0600 Greenwich Mean Time, is now shifting toward the northwest in the Caribbean Sea and is expected to hit the coast by early next week, based on data from meteorological authorities.

Warnings of blackouts and damage to infrastructure have been issued as Melissa generates up to 30 inches of rainfall and storm surges as high as thirteen feet above normal levels. "Take cover without delay," inhabitants have been told.

Melissa is the 13th storm in this year's Atlantic hurricane season, which usually concludes in November.

Category Five Cyclone Threat

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

Even though this storm is expected to diminish in strength to a category four storm before arriving at the island, experts said there was "minimal real distinction in the overall impacts" upon landfall, and that the storm will be "equally strong" when it hits the nation.

Urgent Preparations

With tropical storm-level winds and rain anticipated well in advance long before it passes over Jamaica's central region - including potentially the national capital - alerts emphasize that "readiness efforts must be accelerated".

"Several days of destructive gusts and intense precipitation have begun and will cause catastrophic and life-threatening rapid water accumulation and multiple rock slides," counseled weather authorities.

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness stated: "I know that there are many Jamaicans who are anxious, who are deeply troubled, and with good reason: concern is justified.

"However the most effective method to manage anxiety and any nervousness and concern is to remain prepared."

Locals are being told to protect their properties with sandbags and wooden boards, and to accumulate essentials.

Regional Consequences

Advisories 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 anticipated to bring comparable impacts by the midweek period.

Landslides presently generated by the cyclone have caused two deaths in Haiti, according to emergency services.

Future Course

Melissa is projected to pass over Cuba by the middle of the week before passing across the Greater Antilles and out into the open ocean.

By the point it makes contact with the Caribbean nation, it is anticipated to have weakened to a Category 3 cyclone.

Environmental Context

Although it is difficult to connect individual weather events to environmental shifts, researchers say it is causing climate patterns increasingly frequent and more extreme.

Higher ocean heat create more moisture in the atmosphere, aiding in the creation of hurricanes.

Before the beginning of this year's Atlantic storm period, meteorological authorities forecast higher-than-average occurrence, mentioning elevated ocean temperatures and likely stronger monsoon activity around African coastal regions - where tropical systems typically originate.