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Tropical Storm Melissa is projected to strengthen into a rare category five hurricane as it shifts in the direction of Jamaica, bringing life-threatening flash flooding and landslides.

The cyclone, which recorded winds of up to 120 mph as of 6:00 AM GMT, is now shifting toward the northwest in the Caribbean region and is projected to reach land by early next week, according to hurricane specialists.

Alerts of electricity outages and damage to infrastructure have been announced as Melissa generates up to 76cm of rain and storm surges as high as 13ft above normal levels. "Find safe refuge immediately," inhabitants have been advised.

This hurricane is the 13th cyclone in the ongoing Atlantic season, which typically ends in the eleventh month.

Category Five Storm Danger

A category five cyclone is the most powerful category, with wind speeds of at least 252 km/h.

While this storm is projected to weaken to a Category 4 hurricane before making landfall on Jamaica, experts said there was "minimal real distinction in the total effects" upon making contact with land, and that the storm will be "equally strong" when it strikes the nation.

Immediate Safety Steps

With tropical storm-strength wind and rainfall already expected long before it passes over Jamaica's central region - including potentially the capital, Kingston - alerts state that "readiness efforts must be accelerated".

"An extended timeframe of damaging winds and heavy rainfall has started and will cause devastating and dangerous rapid water accumulation and multiple rock slides," urged weather authorities.

The nation's leader the official stated: "I understand that there are countless citizens who are worried, who are extremely apprehensive, and with good reason: concern is justified.

"But the optimal approach to manage nervousness and any nervousness and anxiety is to be prepared."

Inhabitants are being told to fortify their houses with protective bags and wooden boards, and to stock up on basic necessities.

Broader Consequences

Alerts are also ongoing for regions of Haiti including the main city, Port au Prince, the neighboring country and eastern Cuba, where Melissa is projected 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.

Future Trajectory

The hurricane is forecast to move across Cuba by midweek before moving through the Greater Antilles and emerging into the Atlantic.

By the moment it makes contact with the Caribbean nation, it is predicted to have reduced to a Category 3 cyclone.

Climate Connection

Although it is challenging to associate individual weather events to environmental shifts, scientists say it is making climate patterns increasingly frequent and more intense.

Higher ocean heat produce greater water vapor in the atmosphere, aiding in the formation of storms.

Before the start of the current Atlantic hurricane season, meteorological authorities forecast higher-than-average occurrence, citing warmer seas and likely stronger monsoon activity around African coastal regions - where tropical systems typically originate.