With more than seven weeks left in the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, there's a good chance that catastrophic Hurricane Milton won't be the last storm to impact the U.S. this year.
In fact, forecasters are continuing to watch a few other systems across the Atlantic basin. One east of Florida that briefly looked like it might have become become Tropical Storm Nadine on Wednesday fizzled out before ever becoming a cyclone.
The storm parade comes against the backdrop of what can now officially be called an above-average hurricane season, according to Colorado State University meteorologist Phil Klotzbach .
Would-be Nadine posed no threat to land
A developing system off the east coast of Florida that was moving away from land never formed to become Tropical Storm Nadine.
"Environmental conditions are no longer conducive for further development while the system moves east-northeastward, passing to the south of Bermuda today," the National Hurricane Center said early Thursday morning.
There have been 13 named storms in the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. A typical season – which lasts from June 1 to Nov. 30 – has 14 storms.
Hurricane Leslie spins in the open Atlantic
Hurricane Leslie, the 7th hurricane of the season, continues to spin far from land Thursday after strengthening since Wednesday. It's forecast to wander around the central Atlantic over the next few days.
"Maximum sustained winds are near 105 mph with higher gusts," the hurricane center said. "Leslie is forecast to weaken during the next few days."
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Tropical wave off Africa's coast
In the far eastern tropical Atlantic, forecasters say a tropical wave moved off the west coast of Africa and is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms on Thursday.
"Environmental conditions appear marginal for limited development of this system while it moves westward or west-northwestward across the eastern tropical Atlantic and the Cabo Verde Islands on Friday," the hurricane center said.
Above-normal Atlantic hurricane season
By one measurement, the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season has been more active than usual:
"The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season has now generated 127 ACE (Accumulated Cyclone Energy), officially meeting NOAA's definition of an above-normal season," Klotzbach said on X Wednesday.
ACE is a metric that includes storm frequency, intensity and duration.
Contributing: Jeanine Santucci
(This story was updated to add new information.)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: The next name storm on the list is Nadine. What forecasters are watching.
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