The storm that was Hurricane Helene is no more, and now recovery and assessment begins from the Gulf Coast from Florida and Big Bend to Western North Carolina to the Tennessee and Ohio Valley areas of the United States.
The National Hurricane Center issued its final advisory on the system that was Helene on Friday evening, when North Carolina compared the epic flooding to another catastrophic event and called the storm its “own Hurricane Katrina.”
Now comes a new perspective. With just a few days left in September, forecasters are monitoring two named storms in the Atlantic Ocean and two other potential tropical systems that have a medium to high chance of developing.
Where is Hurricane Isaac and Tropical Storm Joyce?
Hurricane Isaac is located several hundred kilometers west-northwest of the Azores and Tropical Storm Joyce is located over the central tropical Atlantic Ocean. Neither is expected to affect the land.
There is also a tropical wave in the Atlantic Ocean with an average chance of developing in the coming week.
When is the next hurricane?
The western Caribbean remained a concern on Sunday, where an area of ​​low pressure could form early next week and move into the Gulf of Mexico. It’s too early to know if this system will develop into a hurricane, but activity there is similar to what was seen in the early days of what would become Hurricane Helene.
➤ Spaghetti models for Hurricane Isaac
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AccuWeather Senior Director of Forecasting Operations Dan DePodwin reported that an area of ​​high pressure is expected to be over the eastern United States during the second half of next week, which could push any potential tropical storm further west compared to its path Helene.
“However, at this early stage it is too early to rule out all possibilities regarding the future track of a potential tropical storm,” DePodwin said.
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Regardless, all interest groups, from Mexico to the Gulf Coast of the United States, are urged to remain vigilant to the latest developments in the tropical Atlantic Ocean.
The next named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season is Kirk.
Here is the latest update from the National Hurricane Center as of 5 a.m. Sunday, September 29:
➤ Track all active storms
➤ Live updates: Check out the latest news about Helene’s consequences
Is there another hurricane there? Here’s what you need to know about Hurricane Isaac
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Location: 590 miles west-northwest of the Azores
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Maximum sustained wind: 80 km/h
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Movement: northeast at 21 km/h
At 5:00 PM EDT, the center of Hurricane Isaac was located near latitude 42.6 north and longitude 36.5 west.
Isaac is moving toward the northeast at a speed of nearly 13 miles per hour, and this general motion is expected to continue over the next few days, followed by a turn toward the northeast toward the north on Tuesday.
Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 80 miles per hour with higher gusts, and continued weakening is expected in the coming days. Isaac is expected to become a post-tropical cyclone early Monday.
Tropical Storm Joyce: what you need to know
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Location: 1,000 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands
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Maximum sustained winds: 45 mph
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Movement: West-northwest at 9 mph
At 5 a.m. EDT, the center of Tropical Storm Joyce was located near latitude 21.3 north and longitude 48.1 west.
Joyce is moving toward the northwest at 9 miles per hour, and this general motion with a decrease in forward speed is expected until this evening. A turn to the north and north-northeast is forecast on Monday and Tuesday.
Maximum sustained winds remain near 45 km per hour with higher gusts. A weakening is forecast and Joyce is expected to enter a depression early Monday and reach a residual low on Tuesday.
➤ Spaghetti models for Tropical Storm Joyce
Spaghetti models for Tropical Storm Joyce
What else is there and how likely are they to get stronger?
Western Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico: Within a few days, an area of ​​low pressure may form over the western Caribbean Sea.
Environmental conditions are expected to be conducive to gradual development afterward, and a tropical depression could form around the middle of next week. This system is expected to move northwestward into the Gulf of Mexico over the course of next week, and interests in the northwestern Caribbean Sea and along the U.S. Gulf Coast should monitor its progress.
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Probability of formation during 48 hours: low, almost 0 percent.
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Formation chance during 7 days: average, 50 percent.
Eastern and Central Tropical Atlantic Ocean: An extended low-pressure area a few hundred kilometers west of the Cape Verde Islands continues to produce unorganized showers and thunderstorms.
Environmental conditions appear conducive to the gradual development of this system, and a tropical depression is likely to form early to mid next week as the system moves west and then northwest across the eastern and central tropical Atlantic.
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Probability of formation during 48 hours: low, 40 percent.
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Formation chance during 7 days: average, 70 percent.
What do the colored areas on the NOAA map mean?
The shaded areas on a tropical scout map “indicate areas where a tropical cyclone — which could be a tropical depression, tropical storm or hurricane — could develop,” said Jamie Rhome, deputy director of the National Hurricane Center.
The colors make it visibly clear how likely it is that a system can develop where yellow is low, orange is middle and red is high.
The National Hurricane Center generally does not issue tropical advisories until there is a named storm, but there is an exception.
“If a system is near land and there is potential for development, the National Hurricane Center will not wait before issuing an advisory, even if the system has not become a full-blown storm. This gives residents time to prepare Rhome said.
Who is likely to be affected?
Widespread, significant river flooding is underway in the southern Appalachians following post-tropical storm Helene, some of it record-breaking. Conditions will continue to improve on Saturday following catastrophic flooding over the past two days.
➤ Excessive rainfall forecast
There is the possibility of extended power outages in parts of the southeastern US. If you use a generator, make sure it is placed outdoors, at least six feet away from doors, windows and garages to prevent fatal carbon monoxide poisoning.
Forecasters urge all residents to continue to monitor the tropics and always be prepared. That advice is especially important ahead of what is expected to be a very active hurricane season.
Weather watches and warnings issued in Florida
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When is hurricane season over?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30.
The Atlantic Basin includes the North Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.
When is the peak of hurricane season?
The peak of the season was September 10, with most activity occurring between mid-August and mid-October, the Hurricane Center said.
National Hurricane Center Map: What Are Forecasters Looking At Now?
Systems currently monitored by the National Hurricane Center include:
Interactive map: hurricanes, tropical storms that have passed near your city
Excessive rainfall forecast
What’s next?
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(This story has been updated to add new information.)
This article originally appeared in Treasure Coast Newspapers: Hurricane Center is tracking 4 systems, including one in the Caribbean
