Gulf Coast in Crosshairs for More Tropical Activity in Days Ahead

It has not even been a week since Hurricane Helene slammed into the Florida Gulf Coast as a major Category 4 storm. Residents are still recovering from this deadly storm as a new tropical threat is forecast to come together in the Gulf of Mexico. Here is a look at what is happening in the tropics.

What is Brewing Next in the Gulf of Mexico?

The Gulf of Mexico is a hotbed of tropical activity heading into the first week of October with more potential impacts in store for the U.S. coastline. Like Helene, a new system is likely to intensify as it moves through the western Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. The latest forecast models indicate that the development zone will likely be across the southern Gulf with a new storm coming to life as soon as this weekend.

Exceptionally warm sea surface temperatures will serve as the fuel for the next tropical feature, just as it did with Helene. The warm waters are circulating deep under the surface of the Gulf, meaning that there is little cooling effect to mitigate any development. Water temperatures need to reach a minimum of 78 degrees to support tropical development. The current temperatures in the southern Gulf of Mexico and over into the northwestern corner of the Caribbean Sea are hovering well in the 80s.

Two Separate Areas of Concern