As hurricane season heats up, meteorologists are keeping a close eye on two new storms developing in the Atlantic Ocean.
Hurricane Milton is making headlines as it hurtles toward Florida, but it’s not the only system of concern.
Hurricane Leslie Gains Strength
On Wednesday evening, Hurricane Leslie was upgraded to a Category 1 storm after intensifying in the east-northeast Caribbean.
This increase in strength means Leslie could potentially affect areas further afield, although current projections suggest it won’t hit the U.S. mainland.
Meanwhile, a non-tropical low-pressure system is forming and could soon earn the name Nadine if it manages to ramp up its wind speeds.
This would make it the 14th named storm of the 2024 hurricane season.
Milton’s Imminent Threat
While all eyes are on Milton, which is just hours away from landfall in Florida, it’s important to remember the destruction left in the wake of Hurricane Helene just a week ago in North Carolina.
Tom Kines, a senior meteorologist at AccuWeather, emphasized that among the three systems—Milton, Leslie, and the potential Nadine—Milton poses the greatest danger.
Currently, Invest 93L, a non-tropical low-pressure area located about 650 miles off the eastern coast of Florida, is producing showers as it moves northeast.
Meteorologists from the FOX Forecast Center are closely monitoring this system, noting that while it’s unlikely to strengthen significantly, its proximity to the coast warrants attention.
The Potential for Change
Kines mentioned that while the likelihood of significant change in wind and pressure for Invest 93L is low, it’s not completely off the table.
“I don’t want to say it’s a zero percent chance,” he cautioned, highlighting the unpredictability of weather systems.
The term “invest” refers to a weather system under observation for potential tropical cyclone development, and the “L” signifies it as a low-pressure area.
Currently, Invest 93L is moving away from Florida at about 15 miles per hour and could be named Tropical Storm Nadine today.
Meanwhile, Hurricane Leslie is about 1,015 miles east-northeast of the Northern Leeward Islands, boasting maximum sustained winds of 85 miles per hour and moving northwest at 10 miles per hour.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has indicated that Leslie may strengthen further before weakening early next week.
The Impact of Hurricane Milton
Hurricane Milton, however, is the main event, packing winds of up to 155 miles per hour.
It is located roughly 250 miles southwest of Tampa and is moving northeast at 16 mph.
Experts warn that Milton could bring catastrophic storm surges up to 15 feet, along with up to 18 inches of rain, potentially making it one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida.
In light of these warnings, officials have initiated the largest evacuation effort since Hurricane Irma in 2017, urging 5.5 million residents along Florida’s west coast to leave as soon as possible.
The Aftermath of Helene
The looming threat of Milton is particularly concerning for Floridians who are still reeling from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
Helene caused extensive damage along the Gulf Coast, killing at least 225 people, including 19 in Florida, with many others still unaccounted for.
Governor Ron DeSantis noted that some Helene victims are now facing another storm.
David Zierden, Florida’s State Climatologist, pointed out that many homeowners are still in recovery mode, which could hinder their ability to prepare for Milton.
The debris from Helene could also be swept up in Milton’s storm surge, exacerbating the damage.
As officials report that over 12,000 cubic yards of debris have been cleared from Helene-affected areas in just two days, the situation remains fluid.
Floridians must brace themselves for what’s to come as the storm approaches.
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