The Caribbean is now on high alert as Hurricane Melissa strengthens into a rare Category 5 storm with sustained winds of 160 mph (257 km/h). Melissa began as a cluster of thunderstorms off the coast of West Africa before developing over warm waters into a powerful tropical system. It reached tropical-storm status north of Venezuela on 21 October and rapidly intensified over the weekend, evolving into one of the most dangerous hurricanes ever recorded in the region.

The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) has warned of “extensive infrastructure damage, long-duration power and communication outages, and isolation of communities" across Jamaica and nearby islands, with the potential for life-threatening flash flooding, storm surges, and landslides.

But what exactly turns a tropical storm i

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