Tropical Storm Melissa (2007)

Meteorological history and characteristics

Melissa developed from a poorly organized disturbance that failed to consolidate into a long-lived cyclone. Persistent upper-level wind shear and other unfavorable environmental conditions disrupted convection and prevented the storm from developing a well-defined core. Because of these inhibiting factors, Melissa remained weak and short-lived compared with classic Cape Verde-type storms that can intensify into major hurricanes under more conducive circumstances.

Formation, track and environmental factors

The system tracked generally westward across the central Atlantic while embedded in the flow of the trade winds. Typical limiting influences included vertical shear, possible intrusion of dry air, and marginal oceanic heat content for sustained intensification. Observational products and post-season summaries note that these combined factors curtailed further development and led to dissipation while the center remained over open waters.

Impact, records and significance

• Melissa produced no known direct impacts on populated land areas and there are no widely reported damage or casualty records associated with the storm.
• It was notable in the season’s statistics for being the eighth named storm in September 2007, tying a monthly record for that calendar month as recorded in seasonal summaries and reviews (September record).
• As a case study, Melissa illustrates how hostile atmospheric conditions such as sustained wind shear can prevent intensification even when a system forms in a climatologically favorable region.

Researchers and forecasters typically reference Melissa in composite analyses of the 2007 season when discussing storm frequency and the influence of environmental factors on cyclone development. For operational advisories, best-track data and detailed discussion of its short life cycle, consult official tropical cyclone archives and seasonal reviews provided by meteorological agencies and centers that maintain post-storm analyses (operational archive).