A Potential New Storm Is Forming in the Caribbean

Just a few days after Hurricane Helene rolled through the Gulf of Mexico and slammed Florida’s Big Bend Coast, there’s news of another potential storm in the area.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) says that another system of low pressure is forming over the western Caribbean Sea, which could become a storm to watch this week.

It’s still too early for the NHC to give a solid forecast, but as of Monday morning forecasters were giving the system a 50% chance of forming over the next seven days.

“Environmental conditions appear to be conducive for gradual development, and a tropical depression could form around the middle part of this week while the disturbance moves slowly west-northwestward,” the NHC said on Monday week.

“Interests in the northwestern Caribbean Sea and along the U.S. Gulf Coast should monitor the progress of this system,” it added.

There are also two other systems in the area that the NHC has already named—Tropical Depression Joyce and Tropical Storm Isaac. Neither of those storms should have much impact on travel this week as both are moving away from the Caribbean. The one for travelers to watch is that system of low pressure that the NHC is currently naming “Disturbance 1.”  

Hurricane Helen’s aftermath

While Helene hit Florida head-on, the storm made the most damage in the Carolinas and Georgia.

Asheville, a city in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, is perhaps feeling the most impact. At least 30 people are already dead in the area because of flooding. The city’s mayor told news stations on Monday that the city was “entering a desperate situation” as areas of the county can still not be accessed because roads have washed out and communications are still down.

For travel, the impact from Hurricane Helene is largely gone after being most felt on Thursday and Friday of last week. The storm caused mass cancellations at Charlotte Douglas International (CLT) Jacksonville International (JAX), and Tampa International (TPA) on Friday, and major problem at some other regional airports.

Flights in the area were mostly back on track on Saturday, with just a couple of regionals—Asheville Regional (AVL) and Augusta Regional (AGS)—experiencing significant flight delays, according to FlightAware.

Cruise ship schedules are also returning to normal, though there were some more changes over the weekend. Though Port Canaveral and JAXPORT both reopened for marine traffic on Friday, Port Tampa Bay didn’t reopen until Sunday (Sept. 29) afternoon. As a result, the Sept. 26 sailing of Carnival Paradise was canceled.

Additionally, Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas, Grandeur of the Seas, and Enchantment of the Seas, and Margaritaville at Sea Islander were all delayed returning to and departing from the port.

As of this morning (Sept. 30), all cruise operations at Florida ports are back to normal.