Hurricane Melissa raced past Bermuda early on Friday. At 5:00 a.m. EDT on Friday the center of Hurricane Melissa was located at latitude 35.9°N and longitude 64.0°W which put the center about 255 miles (405 km) north of Bermuda. Melissa was moving toward the northeast at 41 m.p.h. (67 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 105 m.p.h. (165 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 973 mb.
Hurricane Melissa was well into a transition to a strong extratropical cyclone on Friday morning. An upper level trough over the eastern U.S. was producing strong southwesterly winds that were blowing toward the top of Melissa’s circulation. Those winds were causing strong vertical wind shear. The strong vertical wind shear combined with cooler Sea Surface Temperatures to cause Hurricane Melissa to make a transition to an extratropical cyclone.
The strong vertical wind shear was also blowing the tops of new thunderstorms that started to form in Hurricane Melissa. Thunderstorms were still developing just to the east of the center of Melissa’s circulation. However, the strong upper level winds were quickly blowing the tops off of those thunderstorms. Drier air was wrapping around the western and southern sides of Hurricane Melissa. The strong vertical wind shear and drier air caused the bands revolving around the center of Melissa to consist primarily of showers and lower clouds.
The transition to an extratropical cyclone caused the size of the circulation around Hurricane Melissa to increase. Winds to hurricane force extended out 80 miles (130 km) from the center of Melissa’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 265 miles (425 km) from the center of Hurricane Melissa.
Hurricane Melissa will move through an environment unfavorable for the intensification of a hurricane. Melissa will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 24°C. It will move under the eastern part of the upper level trough that is over the eastern U.S. The upper level trough will continue to produce strong southwesterly winds that will blow toward the top of Melissa’s circulation. Those winds will continue to cause strong vertical wind shear. The strong vertical wind shear and cool Sea Surface Temperatures cause Hurricane Melissa to complete the transition to an extratropical cyclone.
The upper level trough will steer Hurricane Melissa quickly toward the northeast during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Hurricane Melissa will be pass near the southeastern part of Newfoundland on Friday night.
