At 4:00 a.m., the center of Hurricane Melissa was located near latitude 35.9 North, longitude 64.0 West. Melissa is moving toward the northeast near 67 km/h. This general motion is expected to continue into Saturday, followed by a gradual slowdown and turn toward the east-northeast later this weekend. On the forecast track, the center of Melissa is expected to pass to the south of the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland as a
post-tropical cyclone tonight.
 
Maximum sustained winds are near 150 km/h with higher gusts. Melissa is expected to become a strong post-tropical cyclone later today, with gradual weakening forecast over the weekend.
 
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 130 km from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 425 km.
 
The estimated minimum central pressure is 973 mb.

Hurricane Melissa is not a threat to Jamaica.

The Meteorological Service will continue to monitor the progress of this system.

The Meteorological Service will continue to monitor the progress of this system.

END