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Hurricane the storm is forecast to escalate to a rare Category 5 storm as it turns in the direction of Jamaica, delivering deadly sudden floods and mudslides.

The cyclone, which recorded winds of up to 120 miles per hour as of 0600 Greenwich Mean Time, is now shifting toward the northwest in the Caribbean Sea and is anticipated to make landfall by Tuesday, based on data from weather experts.

Alerts of power cuts and structural damage have been released as this storm generates up to 30 inches of precipitation and sea level surges as high as 4m above normal levels. "Find safe refuge immediately," residents have been urged.

The cyclone is the 13th hurricane in this year's Atlantic storm period, which typically ends in November.

Category Five Hurricane Danger

A Category 5 storm is the most powerful category, with sustained winds of at least 157mph.

Even though Melissa is set to reduce in intensity to a Category 4 cyclone before arriving at the island, experts said there was "very little practical difference in the general consequences" upon making contact with land, and that the storm will be "at least that intensity" when it hits the island.

Immediate Readiness Measures

With storm-force gusts and precipitation anticipated well in advance long before it passes over Jamaica's central region - including potentially the city of Kingston - alerts emphasize that "readiness efforts must be accelerated".

"Several days of destructive gusts and torrential rain have begun and will cause devastating and dangerous rapid water accumulation and many mudslides," urged meteorological officials.

The nation's leader the official stated: "I realize that there are countless citizens who are concerned, who are very concerned, and appropriately: concern is justified.

"Yet the optimal approach to manage worry and any unease and worry is to remain prepared."

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

Wider Impact

Advisories are also ongoing for parts of Haiti encompassing the main city, Port au Prince, the neighboring country and the eastern part of Cuba, where this storm is expected to bring similar effects by the middle portion of the coming week.

Mudslides already being caused by the storm have caused two deaths in Haiti, according to emergency services.

Expected Trajectory

This weather system is forecast to cross the island nation by Wednesday before moving through the Caribbean archipelago and emerging into the Atlantic.

By the point it makes contact with Cuba, it is forecast to have diminished to a third-level hurricane.

Climate Connection

Even though it is difficult to associate particular meteorological occurrences to global warming, experts say it is resulting in weather phenomena increasingly frequent and more extreme.

Warmer oceans produce greater water vapor in the atmosphere, contributing to the creation of hurricanes.

Before the start of this season's Caribbean cyclone season, weather organizations forecast higher-than-average occurrence, citing warmer seas and potential more intense weather patterns around the western African continent - where Atlantic storms frequently develop.