Melissa Threatens Jamaica; Midweek Storms Loom

High pressure will bring a mostly sunny, milder weekend for many areas, but an active midweek pattern could disrupt Halloween. Forecasters say a complicated setup — an atmospheric‑river–driven West storm moving east and a separate coastal low off the Southeast — could merge Thursday–Friday, producing heavy rain and increased lake‑effect precipitation for parts of the Great Lakes and Northeast. Florida (including Sarasota and Central Florida) should expect hit‑and‑miss afternoon thunderstorms and humid conditions through Monday, followed by a midweek cold front that will usher in cooler, drier air and marine hazards such as high surf, rip currents and Small Craft Advisories. Regions from the Plains to the Upper Midwest will see a roller‑coaster of temperatures next week as a series of cold fronts bring chilly mornings and near‑freezing starts in some areas. Tropical Storm Melissa is rapidly intensifying into a major hurricane and now poses an imminent, potentially catastrophic threat to Jamaica and portions of Haiti, with warnings and watches in effect. Forecasters urge people to monitor local updates for evolving storm tracks, timing, and coastal/marine advisories.