The warming of the world's oceans caused by climate change helped double Hurricane Melissa's wind speed in less than 24 hours over the weekend, climate scientists said Monday. Melissa is currently a Category 5 storm,

Melissa is now pushing towards the southern Bahamas/Turks and Caicos Islands as a category 2 hurricane. As a result, these islands will experience heavy rainfall, life threatening storm surge, strong rip currents and damaging wind gust. Hurricane/tropical storm warnings are also in effect for these islands as this storm approaches.

Hurricane Melissa is moving slowly. It reached the coast of Jamaica this afternoon after stalling out over the Caribbean Sea for the past two days. And yet, the winds that form Melissa are shockingly fast.

Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica with record-tying 185 mph winds, and its strength defied typical weakening factors.

The National Hurricane Center says tropical wave AL95 has a "high" chance of becoming a tropical depression this week.

Reeves was closely monitoring the conditions Thursday. He says many homes are now at risk after most of the beach was lost and several feet of dunes were wiped away two weeks ago, when a strong nor'easter battered many shore towns. Strathmere declared a state of emergency.

The capitals and exclamation points are warranted. Hurricane Melissa is an extraordinary storm, even among the many massive, fast-growing, devastating cyclones that have been erupting in the Atlantic Ocean in recent years.

As the storm threatens Jamaica, "the role climate change has played in making Hurricane Melissa incredibly dangerous is undeniable."

Hurricane Melissa left at least dozens dead and caused widespread destruction across Cuba, Haiti and Jamaica, where roofless homes, toppled utility poles and water-logged furniture dominated the landscape Wednesday.