A late-season subtropical storm has formed in the central Atlantic Ocean. Melissa is located nearly 700 miles east-southeast of Bermuda and is moving northwest at 9 mph. Maximum sustained winds are 50 mph. Melissa expected to turn north staying far away from any land. The storm is expected to approach hurricane strength by Wednesday morning before becoming extra-tropical and moving into the North Atlantic Ocean.
Computer model forecasts for Subtropical Storm Melissa
SUBTROPICAL STORM MELISSA ADVISORY NUMBER 1...CORRECTED NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL142013 1100 AM EDT MON NOV 18 2013 CORRECTED TO ADD MENTION OF BERMUDA TO THE SURF STATEMENT ...SUBTROPICAL STORM MELISSA DEVELOPS OVER THE CENTRAL ATLANTIC... SUMMARY OF 1100 AM EDT...1500 UTC...INFORMATION ----------------------------------------------- LOCATION...29.3N 53.6W ABOUT 695 MI...1120 KM ESE OF BERMUDA MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...50 MPH...85 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...NW OR 320 DEGREES AT 9 MPH...15 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...987 MB...29.15 INCHES WATCHES AND WARNINGS -------------------- THERE ARE NO COASTAL WATCHES OR WARNINGS IN EFFECT. DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK ------------------------------ AT 1100 AM EDT...1500 UTC...THE CENTER OF SUBTROPICAL STORM MELISSA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 29.3 NORTH...LONGITUDE 53.6 WEST. THE STORM IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 9 MPH...15 KM/H...AND THIS GENERAL MOTION SHOULD CONTINUE TODAY AND TONIGHT. A SLOW TURN TOWARD THE NORTH IS EXPECTED ON TUESDAY...FOLLOWED BY A TURN TOWARD THE NORTHEAST WITH AN INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED ON WEDNESDAY. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 50 MPH...85 KM/H...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SOME STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS... AND MELISSA IS EXPECTED TO TRANSITION TO A TROPICAL STORM BY TUESDAY. TROPICAL-STORM-FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 275 MILES...445 KM...MAINLY NORTHWEST THROUGH NORTHEAST OF THE CENTER...AND MELISSA IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN A LARGE SYSTEM FOR THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS. THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 987 MB...29.15 INCHES. HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND ---------------------- SURF...LARGE SWELLS ARE ALREADY AFFECTING PORTIONS OF BERMUDA...THE LEEWARD ISLANDS...PUERTO RICO...HISPANIOLA...AND THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS. DANGEROUS SWELLS GENERATED BY MELISSA ARE EXPECTED TO AFFECT THESE AREAS DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS...CAUSING LIFE-THREATENING SURF AND RIP CURRENTS. PLEASE SEE STATEMENTS FROM YOUR LOCAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE FOR MORE DETAILS.