Hurricane Melissa - Through Friday (through 10/31)

At 800 AM EDT (1200 UTC), the center of Hurricane Melissa was located near latitude 20.6 North, longitude 75.7 West, or about 45 miles northwest of Guantanamo, Cuba. ● Melissa was moving toward the north-northeast near 12 knots. A faster northeastward motion is expected during the next few days. ● On the forecast track, the core of Melissa is expected to move offshore of eastern Cuba this morning, move across the southeastern or central Bahamas later today, and pass near or to the west of Bermuda late Thursday and Thursday night. ● Maximum sustained winds were around 90 knots with higher gusts. ● Melissa is expected to remain a powerful hurricane when it moves across the Bahamas later today and passes near Bermuda on Thursday night. As Hurricane Melissa reaches areas around 31N late Thursday and Thursday night, mariners can expect seas around 40 feet along and near the track of the hurricane. ● Mariners should monitor the latest forecasts from the National Hurricane Center on Melissa. Now is the time to execute avoidance plans! Aside from a period of gales off of the southern New England coast Thursday and Thursday evening, behind Melissa, widespread gales should develop Friday from off of the North Carolina coast northward as low pressure intensifies over New England. ● 12-foot and greater seas will be widespread off of the east coast Friday. ● Areas of storm-force winds and seas of 25 to 30 feet are possible Friday night mainly in vicinity of Georges Bank. ● Storm-force wind gusts will be widespread from Friday afternoon and Friday night from offshore of the Virginia Capes northward, gradually diminishing west-to-east late Friday night through Saturday. ● Mariners should monitor the latest forecasts from the Ocean Prediction Center on this late-week system. ● Keep abreast of the latest in the tropics and high seas marine weather information at hurricanes.gov and ocean.weather.gov