Caribbean Storm System Emerges as Hurricane Season Continues

Meteorologists are closely monitoring new tropical activity in the Caribbean as the record-breaking 2024 Atlantic hurricane season approaches its final weeks. A developing system threatens to bring severe weather conditions to the region, with experts warning of potential flooding and mudslides, even if the disturbance doesn’t strengthen into a named storm.

AccuWeather’s Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva explains that unusually warm Caribbean waters—currently in the mid-80s Fahrenheit—create favorable conditions for storm development. “The combination of reduced wind shear and warm waters increases the likelihood of tropical depression or storm formation in early November,” DaSilva explained in a USA TODAY interview.

Weather experts are tracking two potential systems that could develop over the next two weeks, with one possibly affecting the U.S. East Coast, particularly Florida or the Carolinas, by mid-November. While late-season storms typically move eastward into the Atlantic, AccuWeather cautions that some may still impact coastal areas.

2024’s Unprecedented Hurricane Activity

This year stands out as one of the most severe hurricane seasons in decades, marked by destructive storms like Hurricanes Helene and Milton. WeatherTiger meteorologist Ryan Truchelut notes this is the most significant season since 2005, with Florida enduring three hurricane landfalls, including two major storms of Category 3 or higher. “We haven’t seen a season this intense in a generation,” Truchelut observed.

Halloween Weather Outlook

The Northeast anticipates ideal Halloween conditions with unseasonably warm, dry weather and potential record temperatures: Boston near 78°F, New York around 75°F, and Philadelphia possibly reaching 80°F. However, the Central U.S. faces potential thunderstorms from Ohio to Texas, while the Pacific Northwest expects cool, rainy, and windy conditions.

Meteorologists continue to monitor the Caribbean situation closely, emphasizing the importance of continued preparedness as the hurricane season’s end approaches.