Hurricane Melissa, now a formidable Category 5 storm, is barreling towards Jamaica, posing severe threats of life-endangering flash floods and landslides. With winds reaching up to 120 mph (195 km/h) as of 06:00 GMT, the storm is currently veering northwest in the Caribbean and is anticipated to make landfall by Tuesday, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC). The NHC has issued urgent warnings of potential power outages, infrastructure damage, and sea level surges up to 13 feet (4 meters) above ground, accompanied by torrential rainfall of up to 30 inches (76 cm). Residents are being urged to seek immediate shelter and complete emergency preparations without delay. Although Melissa is expected to weaken to a Category 4 hurricane before reaching Jamaica, the NHC emphasized that the impact will remain catastrophic, with little practical difference in severity. The storm has already wreaked havoc in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, claiming two lives in Haiti due to landslides. Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has called for calm and preparedness, advising residents to secure their homes with sandbags and wooden boards and stock up on essentials. Similar warnings are in effect for parts of Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and eastern Cuba, where Melissa is projected to bring equally devastating conditions by midweek. The hurricane is forecasted to pass over Cuba by Wednesday, weakening to a Category 3 storm before moving through the Antillas Mayores and into the Atlantic. Scientists have noted that while it is challenging to attribute individual weather events to climate change, warmer oceans are contributing to more frequent and severe hurricanes. This year’s Atlantic hurricane season, which typically concludes in November, has already seen 13 hurricanes, with the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicting above-normal activity due to warmer seas and stronger monsoon activity around West Africa.