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Hurricane Melissa is projected to become a rare category five cyclone as it turns toward Jamaica, bringing dangerous rapid inundation and mudslides.

This weather system, which registered winds of up to 195 km/h as of 6:00 AM GMT, is presently veering toward the northwest in the Caribbean region and is projected to hit the coast by early next week, as reported by weather experts.

Alerts of power cuts and disruption to utilities have been released as the hurricane generates up to 76cm of rain and coastal flooding as high as 4m above typical tides. "Seek shelter now," residents have been told.

The cyclone is the thirteenth storm in the current Atlantic hurricane season, which typically ends in November.

Category Five Storm Threat

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

Although this storm is set to diminish in strength to a Category 4 hurricane before reaching Jamaica, meteorologists said there was "almost no noticeable change in the overall impacts" upon reaching the coast, and that the storm will be "equally strong" when it hits the nation.

Urgent Readiness Measures

With storm-force wind and rainfall anticipated well in advance ahead of it passes over central Jamaica - perhaps encompassing the city of Kingston - advisories indicate that "safety measures need to be finalized quickly".

"Several days of destructive gusts and heavy rainfall are underway and will cause devastating and dangerous rapid water accumulation and multiple rock slides," counseled weather authorities.

The nation's leader the statesman stated: "I understand that there are numerous residents who are concerned, who are deeply troubled, and appropriately: worry is natural.

"But the most effective method to address anxiety and any apprehension and anxiety is to stay ready."

Inhabitants are being advised to secure their homes with sandbags and wooden boards, and to accumulate basic necessities.

Wider Consequences

Advisories are also in effect for parts of Haiti such as the main city, Port au Prince, the Dominican Republic and Cuba's eastern region, where the hurricane is expected to bring analogous consequences by the middle portion of the coming week.

Landslides presently generated by the hurricane have resulted in two fatalities in Haiti, according to the nation's Civil Protection agency.

Projected Path

Melissa is forecast to pass over the island nation by the middle of the week before passing across the Antillas Mayores and entering the open ocean.

By the time it makes contact with Cuba, it is forecast to have weakened to a third-level cyclone.

Weather Connection

Even though it is challenging to associate particular meteorological occurrences to environmental shifts, researchers say it is resulting in meteorological events increasingly frequent and more severe.

Increased sea temperatures generate greater water vapor in the environment, contributing to the creation of hurricanes.

Ahead of the beginning of this year's Atlantic hurricane season, weather organizations projected higher-than-average occurrence, citing warmer seas and potential more intense weather patterns around the western African continent - where hurricanes frequently develop.