Forecasters have indicated that potential Tropical Storm Nadine is unlikely to form in the Gulf Coast, dodging a potential third significant storm in a month.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has been monitoring storm AL94 for possible development recently. If it intensifies into a tropical storm, it would receive the name Nadine, potentially impacting areas already affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
According to WFLA’s meteorologist Jeff Berardelli, a blocking high-pressure system north of AL94’s trajectory means that the Gulf of Mexico “is closed for business” concerning major storms for the imminent future.
“A blocking ridge over the [Eastern] US along with a trough off the East Coast will prevent significant storm activity in the Gulf for at least the next ten days,” Berardelli shared on X, formerly known as Twitter. He noted that if a tropical system does form, it would either move south or be displaced northeast when it reaches a critical juncture.
National Hurricane Center
Adding to this, meteorologist Chris Mulcahy also stated on X that while AL94 may develop soon, there is a lot of “FALSE hype” surrounding it.
He explained, “A high-pressure system will prevent this from reaching the Gulf, which rules out a landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast or any impacts for the Carolinas.”
The NHC has assigned a “medium chance” of 40 to 60 percent for AL94 to become a tropical depression this week. The storm is described as “an area of low pressure over the central tropical Atlantic,” producing “disorganized showers and thunderstorms.”
“The system is expected to move west to west-northwest, and conditions look marginally favorable for gradual development by the latter part of this week. A tropical depression might form as it nears the Leeward Islands,” according to the NHC’s forecast outlook posted Tuesday evening.
Additionally, the NHC is watching another storm in the western Caribbean Sea that is generating showers and storms. They have noted a low, or 20 percent, chance of this system forming as it slowly moves northwest towards Central America over the next week.
“Regardless of development, heavy rainfall is possible across parts of Central America in the coming days,” the NHC stated in its latest update.