Hurricane Melissa was speeding toward Bermuda on Thursday morning.  At 8:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Hurricane Melissa was located at latitude 26.8°N and longitude 72.7°W which put the center about 605 miles (980 km) southwest of Bermuda.  Melissa was moving toward the north-northeast at 21 m.p.h. (33 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 105 m.p.h. (165 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 125 m.p.h. (200 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 965 mb.

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Bermuda.

Hurricane Melissa strengthened as it moved over warm water near the Bahamas on Wednesday night.  A new larger eye formed at the center of Melissa’s circulation.  The eye was surrounded by a broken ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that broken ring of storms.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Melissa’s circulation.  Storms near the core of Melissa generated upper level divergence that pumped more mass away to the northeast of the hurricane.  The removal of more mass caused the surface pressure to decrease again.

The size of the circulation around Hurricane Melissa increased as it strengthened again.  Winds to hurricane force extended out 60 miles (95 km) from the center of Melissa’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 195 miles (315 km) from the center of Hurricane Melissa.

The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Hurricane Melissa is 17.8.  The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) is 19.8 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) is 37.6.

Hurricane Melissa will move through an environment somewhat favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Melissa will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 27°C.  It will move under the eastern part of an upper level trough that is over the eastern U.S.  The upper level trough will produce southwesterly winds that will blow toward the top of Melissa’s circulation.  Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear.  The moderate vertical wind shear will inhibit intensification, but the wind shear may not be enough to prevent intensification.  Hurricane Melissa could intensify during the next 24 hours.  The upper level winds will get stronger on Friday.  More vertical wind shear will cause Hurricane Melissa to weaken.  The stronger wind shear will also cause Melissa to start a transition to an extratropical cyclone.

The upper level trough will steer Hurricane Melissa toward the northeast during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Hurricane Melissa will be near Bermuda on Thursday night.

Hurricane Melissa will bring strong winds and heavy rain to Bermuda on Thursday night.  Melissa will pass near the southeastern part of Newfoundland on Friday night.