Brace Yourself, Nadine's Coming (Maybe)

As west-central Florida mops up after Hurricane Milton and the Southeast U.S. keeps catching its breath post-Helene, the National Hurricane Center is already eyeing the next potential drama queen, who'll be called Nadine. Because, you know, Mother Nature never sleeps.

Forecasters were all excited about a system off Florida's east coast, but it fizzled out before it could become Tropical Storm Nadine. Typical Florida, always overhyping things.

Now, they're keeping tabs on a system in the east tropical Atlantic Ocean. It's a couple hundred miles west of the Cabo Verde Islands, sauntering westward, and could become a tropical depression. But don't hold your breath; it's got a measly 40% chance of forming over the next seven days, according to the NHC.

Meanwhile, the tropics near the U.S. might be chill for most of next week, say AccuWeather forecasters. But mark your calendars, folks: there's a medium risk of tropical mischief from October 17 to 19 in the western Caribbean. Yep, right where Helene and Milton came from. Thanks, we needed more of that.

Oh, and there's a gyre expected over Central America next week. "From this large, slowly spinning area of low pressure, a more distinct area of showers and thunderstorms may form, and from that, a tropical depression or tropical storm may evolve," said AccuWeather's lead hurricane expert Alex DaSilva in the forecast. Because one storm isn't enough, apparently.

Speaking of unwanted guests:

Where is Tropical Storm Leslie?

Leslie became a tropical storm on Oct. 2, then flexed into Hurricane Leslie, only to downgrade again on Thursday. The National Hurricane Center said Leslie – about 975 miles west-southwest of the Azores – had degenerated into a trough and isn't a threat to the U.S. Bye, Leslie, don't let the door hit you on the way out.

When does the 2024 hurricane season end?

Seven more weeks of this hurricane party, folks. It's officially an above-average season, thanks to storms like Helene and Milton. We've had 13 named storms so far, and Nadine and Oscar are next in line. Can we just cancel the rest of 2024 already?

According to Colorado State University meteorologist Phil Klotzbach, the season's generated 127 on the Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) index. That officially makes it an "above-normal season." Thanks, NOAA, for that stellar definition.

Contributing: Natalie Neysa Alund, Max Hauptman, Laura Lordi, Samantha Neely, Doyle Rice, and Jennifer Sangalang.

Follow Mike Snider on X and Threads: @mikesnider & mikegsnider_.

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