### Tropical Storm Nadine Approaches Yucatan; New System Encroaches Caribbean

The National Hurricane Center is closely observing Tropical Storm Nadine, which emerged early on Saturday morning, and a developing system in the Caribbean that might turn into a tropical storm or depression later in the day. At 8 a.m. ET on Saturday, Tropical Storm Nadine was positioned approximately 60 miles east of Belize City and 105 miles southeast of Chetumal, Mexico, as stated by the hurricane center. Nadine, boasting maximum sustained winds of 45 mph, is heading westward at a pace of 9 mph.

The storm has prompted Tropical Storm Warnings for regions from Belize City extending to Cancun, Mexico, including Cozumel. Anticipated widespread rainfall amounts between 4-8 inches could trigger localized flash flooding in southern Mexico, northern Guatemala, and northern Belize. As per the hurricane center, tropical storm conditions are likely along parts of the coasts of Belize and the Yucatan Peninsula through Saturday afternoon, with isolated rainfall amounts exceeding 12 inches possible through late Tuesday. Fortunately, Nadine does not pose any threat to the United States. As the storm progresses inland, it is predicted to weaken and dissipate over southeastern Mexico by early Sunday.

Additionally, the National Hurricane Center is tracking another system in the Atlantic, identified as AL 94 or Invest 94L, which is generating showers and thunderstorms less than 100 miles east of the Turks and Caicos Islands. This system, moving westward at 10 to 15 mph, is projected to pass north of Hispaniola today and near the Turks and Caicos, the southeastern Bahamas, and the extreme eastern part of Cuba on Sunday. According to forecasters, the system is becoming more organized and may evolve into a tropical depression or storm on Saturday, leading to potential tropical storm warnings for the aforementioned islands and regions.

The likelihood of formation over the next seven days is estimated at 90% as of Saturday, according to the hurricane center. The system is expected to strengthen as it bypasses Hispaniola and Cuba later this weekend before likely dissipating or continuing as a poorly organized tropical rainstorm in the western Caribbean, indicated senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski from AccuWeather.

With around six weeks remaining in the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, which spans from June 1 to November 30, there have already been 14 named storms. The subsequent storm to form will be named Oscar. Following a relatively calm period of about five weeks, the 2024 season elevated to an above-average hurricane season with the emergence of storms Helene and Milton, as noted by Colorado State University meteorologist Phil Klotzbach.

According to Klotzbach, the 14th storm in the Atlantic typically forms around November 19. Colorado State University meteorologists have also reported a 50% chance of tropical development through October 28 in their recent two-week forecast, hinting at potential further development in the western Caribbean late in the forecast period, although these signals are currently weak.