Tropical Storm Melissa leaves Florida on edge after barreling through Caribbean
The National Hurricane Center has confirmed that Tropical Storm Melissa is the 13th named storm of the Atlantic this year
A storm system has developed in the Caribbean, according to the Miami-based National Hurricane Center, and Florida scientists are keeping a close eye on it.
The National Hurricane Center has confirmed that Tropical Storm Melissa is the 13th named storm of the Atlantic this year.
The experts have issued a hurricane watch over parts of Haiti, while a tropical storm watch has been issued for Jamaica. Melissa was moving west at 14 mph with maximum sustained winds up to 50 mph.
The threat of Melissa hitting the mainland U.S., specifically South Florida, is low but not zero, according to the Weather Channel.
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"The chances of a direct U.S. hit from Melissa are low right now, but it is still an option, should the tropical system make it into the western Caribbean," AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva added.
AccuWeather reports that the U.S. concern for impacts will be in the Florida Peninsula, especially the lower portion of the Peninsula and the Keys. Meteorologists believe that strong westerly winds should prevent the storm from tracking into Texas, Louisiana, and the panhandles of Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida next week.
The storm system grew overnight, with long-range storm models reporting the change. Extreme rainfall is likely on the islands near where Melissa stalls.
Further reporting from AccuWeather shows that disruptive breezes were holding the intensity of Melissa back, but water temperatures in the path of Melissa in the Caribbean are in the upper 80s F, and the approximate temperature for tropical development is 78-80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Steering breezes will sooner or later grab onto the storm in the Caribbean and pull it northward. Areas from Hispaniola to Cuba and Jamaica are the first places that would be affected by the storm's heavy rain, strong winds and building seas.
Although Puerto Rico is east of the track of Melissa's center, tropical moisture can still bring heavy rain and the risk of flash flooding and mudslides.
The Caribbean islands that will be affected the most by the storm will highly depend on when the storm starts its turn to the north.
Spaghetti models, which are storm models, show various pathways for Melissa. Some point to the center of the storm going over Cuba, while others show it going across Haiti or the Dominican Republic.
“Given the large spread in the guidance still, it would be wise to prepare for a long period of wind and rain, and then likely a landfall of whatever it becomes and moves north. Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Cuba, as well as the Caymans, Turks and Caicos, and southern Bahamas, appear to be most impacted, given the latest guidance. If it stays lopsided, even PR will be impacted,” posted Jim Cantore of the Weather Channel on X Tuesday morning.
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