Hurricane Melissa, one of the most powerful storms to hit the Atlantic this year, is making its final approach toward northern waters. Although its tropical force is weakening, it is still expected to impact Denmark with rain and gusty winds on Monday.
A Historic Storm Transforms
Hurricane Melissa made headlines earlier this week when it made landfall in southwestern Jamaica as a Category 5 hurricane, packing sustained winds over 80 meters per second (almost 180 mph). With torrential rains and devastating winds, the storm became not only the strongest of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season but also one of the most intense landfalling hurricanes on record in the region.
After slamming Jamaica, Melissa tracked northward, affecting both Cuba and the Bahamas. By Friday, it had weakened to a Category 1 storm and was located several hundred kilometers off the east coast of the United States. According to forecasts from the U.S. National Hurricane Center, Melissa is expected to lose its tropical characteristics within 12 to 18 hours, transforming into a post-tropical cyclone as it moves into colder air and waters of the North Atlantic.
Storm’s Final Path: North Atlantic and Denmark
It is common for tropical hurricanes to dissipate in the North Atlantic, and Melissa appears to be following this trend. Forecasters expect the storm to pass near Newfoundland, then move into the ocean southwest of Iceland over the weekend. As it merges with colder systems in the Atlantic, it is steering the larger weather pattern across the region.
Melissa’s remnants will help push a system of low pressure across the United Kingdom and then toward Denmark. Although the storm will no longer be tropical by that point, it will still carry significant moisture and energy.
By Monday, the warm front associated with Melissa is forecasted to sweep over Denmark, bringing widespread rain and wind. While the effects won’t match the destruction seen in the Caribbean, Danes should prepare for a wet and breezy start to the work week.
Danish Weather Impact Expected Monday
Meteorologists expect the warm front to arrive in Denmark during Monday with moderate to heavy rainfall and brisk winds coming from the south and southwest. Temperatures will range from 50 to 54 degrees Fahrenheit (10 to 12 degrees Celsius), making the weather feel far from tropical.
Melissa’s passage through the area is expected to be brief. The storm system will likely move out of Danish airspace by early Tuesday, leaving behind milder weather. The post-tropical remnants are expected to fully dissipate south of Iceland by midweek, ending the storm’s journey, which began more than two weeks ago when it first formed as a tropical disturbance in the Caribbean.
Global Hurricane Context
Hurricane Melissa’s strength has drawn comparisons to legendary storms such as the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 and Hurricane Dorian in 2019. With sustained winds exceeding 180 mph at peak intensity, Melissa ranks among the top five most powerful Atlantic hurricanes ever measured based on wind speed.
The Role of Climate and Forecasting Challenges
Tropical systems like Melissa significantly influence weather patterns even far from their points of origin. As these storms move into temperate zones, they often shift from tropical storms into extratropical systems or low-pressure areas. While these changes lower wind intensity, the storms can still bring large amounts of precipitation and shifts in regional weather dynamics.
An added challenge in predicting these systems is their high energy content. Loaded with heat and moisture, they behave differently from typical low-pressure systems in northern regions, making forecasts less certain and more complex.
Melissa highlights how storms originating thousands of miles away can still affect European weather. While Denmark is not facing any storm damage, the rainy and windy conditions serve as a reminder of how interconnected global weather systems have become.
