Tropical Storm Melissa Still Far Out in Atlantic

Tropical Storm Melissa, which formed early on Saturday morning in the distant eastern Atlantic Ocean, is expected to decrease in strength, and could become a tropical depression again within the day.

Early Sunday morning, the weak tropical storm's center located about 490 miles West of the Cape Verde Islands, and tracking west-northwest at about 13 mph. Its 40 mph sustained winds could decline below tropical storm-force in the next day.

Meanwhile, Melissa's predecessor, Tropical Storm Karen, was hanging on as a tropical depression in the Atlantic.

Melissa is the 13th named storm of the season, so at least on prediction from federal forecasters has been met.

Here's a look at what the forecast called for, and what we've seen so far in the Atlantic. Remember, the official season lasts through October.

Type of Storm ......... Predicted ..... Observed

Named Storms ............. 13-16 ............ 13 (Andrea, Barry, Chantal, Dean, Erin, Felix, Gabrielle, Humberto, Ingrid, Jerry, Karen, Lorenzo, Melissa)

Hurricanes ...................... 7-9 ............... 4 (Dean, Felix, Humberto and Lorenzo)

Major Hurricanes ........... 3-5 ............... 2 (Dean, Felix)

These are the names on the National Hurricane Center's list of names that will be given to any upcoming Atlantic storms: Noel, Olga, Pablo, Rebekah, Sebastien, Tanya, Van, Wendy.

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