In today’s newsletter: Federal workers clamor for an end to the shutdown as they go without pay. The United States and China are expected to reach a trade deal, a top official says. And Jamaica braces for catastrophic Hurricane Melissa.

A large thunderstorm swept in from the sea and hit Florida’s Mexico Beach early on Monday morning after warnings of a tornado threat. There was a risk of flash flooding amid heavy rainfall in the area, forecasters warned. Meteorologist Jim Cantore called the storm “dangerous” in a post on X and said trailers and RVs in the area had been overturned.

Tropical Storm Melissa is nearly stationary in the central Caribbean, with forecasters warning it could soon strengthen and brush past Jamaica as a powerful hurricane.

The system is expected to arrive sometime between Wednesday night and Thursday morning, with heavy rain, strong winds and coastal flooding.

A rare flash flood emergency was declared for parts of Lake County on Sunday, which received up to 18 inches of rain.

The decision limits aid that will flow to rural power cooperatives, which are already raising rates to cover damage from the devastating storm.

NWS warns of heavy snow, up to 18", and 60mph winds across western U.S. states through Monday; travel may be dangerous.

The 1992 Framingham High grad, player at Tufts and 12-season coach at MIT served as an assistant with the New York Liberty this past season.