East Coast Braces for Indirect Impacts from Melissa

The East Coast could be in store for another round of stormy conditions next week as what is left of Melissa turns to the north and whips up the seas. Here is a look at the dicey conditions bearing down on the eastern U.S.

How Melissa Will Indirectly Impact the East Coast

Forecasters are warning that the 13th named tropical event of the season may impact the U.S. even in the absence of a direct hit. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is predicting that what is now Tropical Storm Melissa is likely to evolve into a major hurricane by next week, potentially reaching the status of a Category 5 storm. The path of Melissa is still a mystery, as a host of weather elements will influence the direction it takes as it continues to strengthen.

The storm will not need to come ashore in the U.S. to deliver its wrath. The timing of Melissa's expected turn to the north will determine the degree of impact on the East Coast. A forecast dip in the jet stream over the eastern portions of the country next week will pair with a non-tropical weather maker to potentially amplify Melissa's effects.