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Hurricane Melissa is projected to become a rare category five cyclone as it shifts towards Jamaica, delivering dangerous flash flooding and landslides.

This weather system, which had winds of up to 120 miles per hour as of 06:00 GMT, is currently turning toward the northwest in the Caribbean region and is anticipated to reach land by Tuesday, according to meteorological authorities.

Advisories of electricity outages and disruption to utilities have been announced as the hurricane brings up to 30 inches of rainfall and sea level surges as high as 13ft above typical tides. "Seek shelter now," inhabitants have been advised.

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

Most Intense Cyclone Risk

A highest-level storm is the most powerful category, with wind speeds of at least 157 miles per hour.

While this storm is projected to weaken to a Category 4 hurricane before making landfall on the island, experts said there was "almost no noticeable change in the total effects" upon landfall, and that the storm will be "at least that intensity" when it impacts the country.

Urgent Readiness Measures

With tropical storm-strength wind and rainfall predicted to begin well before it crosses the island's interior - possibly even the capital, Kingston - warnings indicate that "preparations should be rushed to completion".

"Several days of destructive gusts and intense precipitation has started and will cause catastrophic and life-threatening sudden floods and many landslides," advised weather authorities.

The nation's leader Andrew Holness stated: "I know that there are countless citizens who are concerned, who are extremely apprehensive, and appropriately: concern is justified.

"But the optimal approach to handle anxiety and any nervousness and concern is to stay ready."

Locals are being instructed to fortify their houses with sandbags and wooden boards, and to stock up on necessary supplies.

Regional Consequences

Warnings are also active for parts of the neighboring country including the capital, Port au Prince, the neighboring country and Cuba's eastern region, where the hurricane is expected to bring comparable impacts by the middle of next week.

Landslides currently triggered by the storm have caused two deaths in the country, according to emergency services.

Future Course

This weather system is predicted to cross the island nation by Wednesday before passing across the Caribbean archipelago and entering the Atlantic.

By the moment it arrives at Cuba, it is predicted to have weakened to a third-level storm.

Weather Connection

While it is challenging to link particular meteorological occurrences to environmental shifts, experts say it is resulting in weather phenomena increasingly frequent and more severe.

Warmer oceans create greater water vapor in the air, contributing to the development of storms.

Ahead of the commencement of the current Caribbean cyclone season, weather organizations forecast higher-than-average occurrence, referencing heated marine conditions and possible enhanced seasonal rains around African coastal regions - where hurricanes typically originate.