Hurricane the storm Gains Power As It Heads Toward the Island Nation
Hurricane the storm is forecast to escalate to a rare Category 5 hurricane as it turns toward the Caribbean island, delivering life-threatening rapid inundation and rock falls.
This weather system, which registered winds of up to 120 miles per hour as of 0600 Greenwich Mean Time, is presently veering northwest in the Caribbean Sea and is expected to hit the coast by early next week, according to hurricane specialists.
Advisories of electricity outages and disruption to utilities have been issued as the hurricane brings up to thirty inches of rainfall and sea level surges as high as thirteen feet above typical tides. "Seek shelter now," inhabitants have been advised.
Melissa is the thirteenth hurricane in the ongoing Atlantic season, which usually concludes in the eleventh month.
Category Five Hurricane Danger
A highest-level storm is the most powerful category, with sustained winds of at least 157 miles per hour.
Even though the hurricane is set to reduce in intensity to a fourth-level hurricane before arriving at the island, experts said there was "minimal real distinction in the general consequences" upon landfall, and that the hurricane will be "just as powerful" when it impacts the country.
Immediate Safety Steps
With tropical storm-level wind and rainfall already expected long before it moves across the island's interior - possibly even the capital, Kingston - advisories emphasize that "readiness efforts must be accelerated".
"An extended timeframe of destructive gusts and heavy rainfall has started and will cause severe and deadly flash flooding and many rock slides," advised climate experts.
The nation's leader the statesman said: "I understand that there are numerous residents who are anxious, who are very concerned, and appropriately: concern is justified.
"However the best way to address nervousness and any nervousness and concern is to be prepared."
Residents are being advised to protect their properties with sandbags and wooden boards, and to stock up on necessary supplies.
Wider Consequences
Warnings are also in effect for parts of Haiti such as the main city, Port au Prince, the adjacent nation and eastern Cuba, where this storm is anticipated to bring similar effects by the middle portion of the coming week.
Mudslides presently generated by the cyclone have caused two deaths in Haiti, according to the nation's Civil Protection agency.
Future Course
Melissa is forecast to move across the island nation by the middle of the week before passing across the Antillas Mayores and out into the open ocean.
By the time it arrives at Cuba, it is predicted to have weakened to a category three cyclone.
Climate Context
While it is difficult to associate individual weather events to environmental shifts, scientists say it is making weather phenomena more prevalent and more severe.
Higher ocean heat produce more moisture in the atmosphere, aiding in the creation of hurricanes.
Before the commencement of this year's Caribbean cyclone season, climate agencies predicted higher-than-average occurrence, referencing warmer seas and possible enhanced seasonal rains around African coastal regions - where Atlantic storms frequently develop.
