Potential Hurricane Nadine is on track to hit Florida in Milton's wake

The U.S. National Hurricane Center has identified a possible developing storm called Nadine, which will emerge shortly after the deadly impending Category 5 Hurricane Milton.

NHC officials noted that the current “non-tropical depression” northeast of the Bahamas is currently producing “gale-force winds” at 15 mph (24 km/h).

There is currently a 20 percent chance of this weather front developing into a tropical storm, and it could develop into a stronger hurricane storm before Wednesday night – just as Milton passes over Florida.

NHC officials have already called Hurricane Milton alone “potentially catastrophic” for Florida's western coastal communities – a clear sign that another storm would soon cause unprecedented damage.

The US National Hurricane Center has identified a potential storm (above in yellow) forming immediately after the deadly Category 5 Hurricane Milton. Right now, there is a 20 percent chance that this weather front will develop into a tropical storm or worse – which would be named “Nadine.”

Fortunately, according to NHC hurricane specialist Andrew Hagen, the percentage chance of these storm force winds developing into a still-hypothetical Hurricane Nadine will drop dramatically after Wednesday evening.

“On Wednesday night, winds will likely increase at upper elevations, which should negate any chances of further development,” the longtime NHC marine forecaster wrote in his advisory Tuesday.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, hurricanes typically develop from tropical waves that combine with warm ocean water.

Thunderstorms and other atmospheric turbulence can contribute to a storm front reaching hurricane force as warmer ocean air rises into these storm clouds and creates a low pressure area beneath them.

A hurricane's maximum sustained wind speed, defined as the highest average wind speed in a minute at a given time, sets the boundary between these powerful storms and smaller tropical cyclones.

A hurricane is anything that reaches a speed of 74 miles per hour or more.

A tropical cyclone is defined by maximum sustained winds between 39 and 73 miles per hour.

NHC described Hurricane Milton as “potentially catastrophic” for Florida’s western coastal communities. Trackers predicted Milton will move northeast before turning sharply east toward Tampa.

Tampa Bay and surrounding communities are bracing for storm surges of up to 15 feet, causing inland flooding as residents try to flee amid traffic congestion.

Hurricane Milton, currently a catastrophic Category 4 hurricane with winds of 155 miles per hour, continues to sweep across the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida, shown on the GOES-East satellite at 10:09 GMT on October 8, 2024

Across Florida counties along Milton's northeast path, rainfall amounts of 5 to 10 inches are expected, with up to 15 inches in some regions.

According to the World Meteorological Organization, these heavy rains are expected to bring flash flooding, slower and more persistent “spread” flooding, overwhelmed drainage systems and “moderate to major river flooding.”

Milton surprised meteorologists with its ability to transform from a tropical depression or cyclone — with winds of no more than 38 miles per hour — to a potentially record-breaking and deadly Category 5 hurricane in less than three days.

The worst impacts of Hurricane Milton are expected to last into the early hours of Thursday morning, with the eye of the storm sweeping through central Florida before passing the East Coast sometime after 5 a.m. East Coast.

More than a million people have been ordered to evacuate Florida. This is the highest level in seven years, after about seven million people were ordered to evacuate in 2017 when Hurricane Irma hit the state.

Florida residents seeking assistance are asked to call the State Assistance Information Line (SAIL) at 1-800-342-3557 and/or the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362.