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Tropical Storm Melissa is projected to strengthen into a uncommon highest-level hurricane as it veers towards Jamaica, causing dangerous flash flooding and rock falls.

This weather system, which recorded wind speeds of up to 120 miles per hour as of 06:00 GMT, is presently veering north-west in the Caribbean Sea and is projected to hit the coast by Tuesday, based on data from weather experts.

Advisories of power cuts and disruption to utilities have been released as this storm generates up to 76cm of rain and sea level surges as high as 4m above typical tides. "Seek shelter now," inhabitants have been told.

The cyclone is the thirteenth cyclone in the ongoing Atlantic hurricane season, which usually concludes in the eleventh month.

Category Five Cyclone Risk

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

Although the hurricane is projected to weaken to a category four storm before making landfall on Jamaica, authorities said there was "minimal real distinction in the overall impacts" upon landfall, and that the hurricane will be "at least that intensity" when it impacts the nation.

Immediate Readiness Measures

With tropical storm-level wind and rainfall anticipated well in advance long before it crosses central Jamaica - perhaps encompassing the city of Kingston - alerts indicate that "readiness efforts must be accelerated".

"Several days of harmful winds and intense precipitation has started and will cause devastating and dangerous sudden floods and many rock slides," counseled weather authorities.

The country's head of government Andrew Holness said: "I realize that there are many Jamaicans who are concerned, who are very concerned, and rightfully so: you should be concerned.

"Yet the most effective method to manage worry and any unease and worry is to be prepared."

Inhabitants are being instructed to secure their homes with sand barriers and timber panels, and to gather essentials.

Wider Effects

Alerts are also ongoing for regions of Haiti such as the main city, Port au Prince, the neighboring country and the eastern part of Cuba, where the hurricane is projected to bring analogous consequences by the middle of next week.

Mudslides currently triggered by the storm have resulted in two fatalities in Haiti, according to local authorities.

Projected Trajectory

Melissa is predicted to pass over the island nation by midweek before passing across the Caribbean archipelago and emerging into the open ocean.

By the moment it arrives at Cuba, it is anticipated to have diminished to a third-level cyclone.

Climate Context

While it is difficult to connect particular meteorological occurrences to climate change, experts say it is resulting in weather phenomena increasingly frequent and more intense.

Higher ocean heat create more moisture in the environment, contributing to the formation of tropical cyclones.

Prior to the commencement of this year's Atlantic storm period, weather organizations forecast increased storm frequency, mentioning warmer seas and possible more intense weather patterns around African coastal regions - where hurricanes often form.