Melissa Finally Named...

After NHC was quick to name several earlier storms, they took their time with naming Melissa despite very impressive satellite pictures.  

They waited until after the visible (Daylight) loop showed them a classic picture.  This is more a hybrid system and has been classified "sub-tropical".  She is forecasted to slowly drift out to sea.  NHC now is focused again on the southern Caribbean for next week.  Several computer models (CMC, GFS) are indicating a tropical system will cross the Yucatan and get into the southern Gulf heading towards us for NEXT weekend.  The Euro does NOT buy into that solution so I want to stress it's way to early to worry about a late season storm.  They have happened as late as the last week of October (Juan 1085) and usually struggle with wind shear and cooler waters the farther north they come.

Our immediate focus is the return of some much needed rainfall ahead of a strong cold front that will arrive here after midnight.  We're seeing stray showers ahead of the front with greater coverage along the front.

And oh what a temperature drop!  The core of the cold will stay well to our north, but lingering clouds on Saturday may mean we'll need a light jacket or sweater (no Fooling!),

The cool down won't last and we'll warm back up for most of next week before another front arrives.  For now, the Gulf is quiet.   Late next week could be a different story.  Stay tuned!