New Tropical Threat Looms as Southeast Recovers from Hurricane Helene

Forecasters are closely monitoring potential storm development in the Gulf of Mexico, while Tropical Storm Kirk strengthens in the Atlantic.

Hurricane Helene, which made landfall as a Category 4 storm, has left over 130 dead and caused catastrophic flooding across the Southeast U.S.
A new area of low pressure in the western Caribbean has a 40% chance of developing into a tropical storm and potentially impacting the Gulf Coast next week.
Tropical Storm Kirk is expected to become a major hurricane but is predicted to remain over the open Atlantic, posing no direct threat to land.
Two other tropical systems in the Atlantic, Isaac and Joyce, have weakened and are not expected to impact the U.S.
Forecasters warn of dangerous rip currents along the U.S. East Coast due to swells generated by Kirk, despite it staying offshore.