Melissa arrives during what experts describe as a “quiet” hurricane season, coming after several costly years. This follows just one year after much of the southern United States experienced unprecedented damage from Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton.
This year, however, the Trump Administration’s sweeping White House cuts to government personnel, projects, and agencies have led to the elimination of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s climate disaster database, raising concerns about disaster tracking and preparedness.
While it appears that Melissa will affect the Caribbean throughout the week, it remains unclear whether its course will shift toward the United States. For now, forecasts indicate that the storm will bring only rip currents and waves to Florida.
https://time.com/7328483/hurricane-melissa-jamaica-haiti/