Florida Could Get Hit With Another Tropical Storm

Storm watchers are warning Americans to not let their guard down when it comes to the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.

As of Tuesday morning, there were no named storms churning in the Atlantic Ocean, but the National Hurricane Center (NHC) was monitoring a system with high risk of development in the Caribbean. Should the storm develop later this week, it will become Tropical Storm Sara, the eighteenth named storm of the season.

AccuWeather meteorologists are warning that hurricanes and tropical storms still pose a risk to the U.S, even in November.

A car parked in stormy Fort Myers, Florida, on October 9, 2024 as Hurricane Milton approaches. Meteorologists are warning that Florida could still be hit by a tropical storm, even in November. Chandan Khanna/Getty

Florida faces 'higher risk' for November storms

"Don't let your guard down just because the calendar says we're heading into mid-November. Conditions and water temperatures in the tropics are still primed for tropical storms to form in the final weeks of hurricane season," AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva said in a report. "History shows that Florida faces a higher risk of tropical impacts than any other state during the month of November."

The most recent named storm was Hurricane Rafael, which threatened to make a historic landfall in Louisiana before it dissolved in the Caribbean without hitting the U.S.

A named storm has never made a November landfall in Louisiana or Texas, DaSilva told Newsweek. Gulf waters are typically too cool to foster hurricane development this time of year, and strong wind shear in the area has the tendency to tear storms apart before making landfall.

Florida, however, has seen several November landfalls. Ocean waters also are much warmer than usual for this time of year for both the Gulf and the Caribbean, DaSilva said, which contributes to the risk that a tropical storm or hurricane could hit Florida this month.

"These warm waters will provide extra fuel for any storms that can develop in the next few weeks," DaSilva said.

When will Tropical Storm Sara form?

Regarding potential Tropical Storm Sara's path, the AccuWeather report said meteorologists anticipate the storm's development in the western Caribbean between November 14 and 18. The system is already causing rain showers and thunderstorms in Hispaniola.

Should the storm develop, wind shear north of the Caribbean could prevent the storm from trekking in that direction, but there's a chance the wind shear will dissolve next week, which could allow the storm to move northward, toward the U.S.

DaSilva said if conditions prove favorable and the storm tracks toward the U.S, South Florida has the greatest risk of impact.

"If it does come up into the U.S, it likely won't be at peak intensity, but that's not to say the impacts couldn't be significant depending on the strength of the storm," DaSilva said.

If Sara's path takes the storm toward the U.S, it would likely make landfall between November 19 and 22, but DaSilva stressed that the path is still unclear.

Remnants of Hurricane Rafael Still Impacting the U.S.

Although Rafael has dissolved and never made landfall in the U.S, some impacts can still be expected. The storm is causing rip currents along the Gulf Coast from Texas to Florida, making for dangerous swimming conditions in some areas. The storm's remnants also are expected to cause heavy rain in parts of Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee later this week, AccuWeather reported.