Hurricane Melissa Update: Grazing Bermuda, Record Landfall Strength

Hurricane Melissa's Current Status

• 🌀 Hurricane Melissa remains a category 2 storm with sustained winds of 105 mph.
• ⚠️ The storm is currently moving into the open Atlantic after making landfall in Jamaica and Cuba.
• 🎯 Melissa is forecast to graze by Bermuda tonight, bringing strong winds.

Storm Structure and Bermuda Impact

• 🔬 The storm's eye is no longer visible, with upper-level winds ripping the circulation apart.
• 💨 Strongest winds, gusting to 80-100 mph, are expected to cross St. George and Bermuda over the next few hours.
• 🏠 Residents in Bermuda are battling down the hatches for a rough, windy night.

Forecast Track and Future Intensity

• 🚀 Melissa is accelerating northeast at 32 mph, caught in upper-level winds.
• 📉 The storm is expected to pass off the coast of Nova Scotia by tomorrow afternoon and move into cooler waters.
• 🌬️ By the weekend, Melissa is predicted to become a tropical storm with 70 mph winds, losing its tropical characteristics.
• 🌍 The storm's circulation is expected to bring wind and rain to Iceland early next week.

Historical Significance and Season Outlook

• 🏆 Melissa is tied for the strongest hurricane to make landfall in the Atlantic basin, with 185 mph sustained winds, matching the 1935 Labor Day hurricane.
• 📉 The hurricane season has seen 13-14 named storms so far, which is normal, but with five hurricanes and four major hurricanes, it's ahead of the forecast for major storms.
• 📊 The Colorado State University forecast for the season's numbers is noted as one of the best seen, despite the unpredictability of storm formation and tracks.
• 🚫 The names Melissa, Gilbert, Camille, and Dean will be retired due to their significant impact.