Melissa (2013)

Melissa began as a non-tropical low along a stalled front in the central subtropical Atlantic on 17 November 2013. It became a subtropical storm about 1200 UTC 18 November while centered roughly 625 nautical miles east-southeast of Bermuda. The cyclone moved generally northward then turned northeastward and transitioned to a tropical storm around 0600 UTC 20 November about 675 nmi east-northeast of Bermuda. Melissa accelerated east‑northeastward toward the Azores and became post‑tropical by 0000 UTC 22 November north‑northeast of Flores Island, merging with another system and becoming extratropical later that day before dissipating on 23 November.

Melissa did not make any landfalls as a tropical or subtropical cyclone. Its closest approach with notable effects was near the western Azores on 21–22 November as it passed about 250 nautical miles west of Flores Island and then north‑northeast of Flores when it lost deep convection. Bermuda and parts of the northern Caribbean experienced large swells, and the western Azores saw strong winds associated with the system, but no formal landfall was recorded.

The peak intensity for Melissa was 55 knots (about 63 mph) with a minimum central pressure of 980 mb, reached twice: first as a subtropical storm around 0600 UTC 19 November and again as a tropical storm at 1200 UTC 21 November. At peak it was a moderate tropical storm (not a hurricane).

Storm surge and rainfall reports associated with Melissa were minimal in the official record. The report emphasizes large swells affecting Bermuda and northern Caribbean islands and strong winds in the western Azores, but does not list measured coastal surge heights or significant rainfall totals at specific cities or counties. Ship observations did record tropical‑storm‑force winds (for example, a ship reported 41 kt near 36.6°N, 30.6°W on 21 November), but no station rainfall or surge measurements of notable magnitude were reported in the NHC writeup.

There were no reports of damage or casualties linked to Melissa. The most notable impacts were marine (large swells) and strong winds over the Azores, but no confirmed injuries, deaths, or structural damage were recorded in the NHC report.

Noteworthy points: Melissa formed from a non‑tropical low and transitioned from subtropical to tropical while well east of land, an evolution documented by satellite and phase‑space analyses. Its formation was not well anticipated in longer‑range outlooks, and NHC track errors were larger than recent 5‑year means, though intensity forecasts were reasonably accurate in predicting little strengthening.