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Tropical Storm Don 2017 Recap | The Weather Channel
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Tropical Storm Don 2017 Recap

Track history in July 2017
Track history of Tropical Storm Don from July 17-18, 2017.

Tropical Storm Don didn't last long, but did manage to become a relatively early fourth named storm and did lead to some flash flooding in a few areas.

(MORE: Hurricane Central)

Don became the fourth named storm of the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season on July 17, as it was about 500 miles east of Barbados, after a hurricane hunter mission found a small low pressure circulation with winds of tropical storm force.

(MORE: No, It Wasn't Named For Trump)

This occurred almost five weeks ahead of the average fourth named Atlantic storm date, according to National Hurricane Center statistics.

(MORE: Early Activity an Indication of a Busy Season Ahead?)

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Less than 24 hours later, Don was already weakening, thanks to the twin nemeses of wind shear – the change in wind speed and/or direction with height – and dry air.

Just 36 hours after first being named, Tropical Storm Don degenerated into a tropical wave just before midnight EDT on July 18. 

(MORE: The Last Tropical Storm Don, in 2011, One of Strangest Landfalls We've Seen)

Flash flooding was reported in a few spots in Trinidad and Tobago on July 18, even as Don's circulation was weakening.

MORE ON WEATHER.COM: Retired Atlantic Hurricane and Tropical Storm Names

Melissa's strongest maximum sustained winds were found to have reached 190 mph, tying 1980's Hurricane Allen for the strongest sustained winds on record for any Atlantic Basin hurricane. Hours later, it tied 2019's Dorian and the 1935 Labor Day hurricane for strongest Atlantic Basin landfall by wind speed when it slammed into Jamaica with 185 mph maximum sustained winds. Storm surge inundation from 7 to 11 feet above normally dry ground swamped coastal areas of southwest Jamaica. Melissa later made a Category 3 landfall in eastern Cuba, then a Category 2 landfall in the southeast Bahamas. At least 95 were killed, 45 of which were in Jamaica and another 43 in Haiti. (Photo: RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images)
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HURRICANE MELISSA (2025)

Melissa's strongest maximum sustained winds were found to have reached 190 mph, tying 1980's Hurricane Allen for the strongest sustained winds on record for any Atlantic Basin hurricane. Hours later, it tied 2019's Dorian and the 1935 Labor Day hurricane for strongest Atlantic Basin landfall by wind speed when it slammed into Jamaica with 185 mph maximum sustained winds. Storm surge inundation from 7 to 11 feet above normally dry ground swamped coastal areas of southwest Jamaica. Melissa later made a Category 3 landfall in eastern Cuba, then a Category 2 landfall in the southeast Bahamas. At least 95 were killed, 45 of which were in Jamaica and another 43 in Haiti. (Photo: RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images)
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