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Cyclone the storm is forecast to become a uncommon highest-level hurricane as it veers in the direction of Jamaica, causing life-threatening sudden floods and landslides.

The hurricane, which had winds of up to 120 mph as of 6:00 AM GMT, is presently veering north-west in the Caribbean and is anticipated to reach land by early next week, according to meteorological authorities.

Advisories of blackouts and disruption to utilities have been issued as the hurricane generates up to 76cm of rainfall and storm surges as high as 13ft above normal levels. "Find safe refuge immediately," locals have been told.

This hurricane is the 13th named cyclone in the current Atlantic storm period, which normally finishes in November.

Category Five Storm Risk

A Category 5 storm is the strongest type, with winds of at least 252 km/h.

While this storm is set to diminish in strength to a category four storm before arriving at the island, experts said there was "almost no noticeable change in the total effects" upon making contact with land, and that the hurricane will be "just as powerful" when it hits the island.

Urgent Readiness Measures

With tropical storm-level gusts and precipitation anticipated well in advance long before it moves across central Jamaica - including potentially the city of Kingston - alerts emphasize that "preparations should be rushed to completion".

"A multi-day period of harmful winds and heavy rainfall has started and will cause catastrophic and life-threatening flash flooding and numerous mudslides," counseled weather authorities.

The country's head of government the official said: "I realize that there are numerous residents who are worried, who are deeply troubled, and rightfully so: concern is justified.

"But the optimal approach to address nervousness and any apprehension and anxiety is to stay ready."

Inhabitants are being instructed to fortify their houses with sandbags and timber panels, and to accumulate essentials.

Wider Impact

Advisories are also active for parts of Haiti encompassing the main city, Port au Prince, the Dominican Republic and Cuba's eastern region, where this storm is expected to bring similar effects by the middle portion of the coming week.

Landslides presently generated by the storm have already killed two in Haiti, according to the nation's Civil Protection agency.

Expected Path

This weather system is predicted to move across Cuba by Wednesday before traveling via the Caribbean archipelago and emerging into the Atlantic Ocean.

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

Weather Context

Although it is hard to link particular meteorological occurrences to environmental shifts, researchers say it is causing climate patterns more common and more intense.

Warmer oceans create more moisture in the air, helping fuel the development of tropical cyclones.

Ahead of the beginning of this season's Atlantic hurricane season, weather organizations forecast above-normal activity, citing elevated ocean temperatures and potential more intense weather patterns around West Africa - where tropical systems typically originate.