Hurricane Nigel: Could It Be the Next Major Storm to Threaten the Atlantic?

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Forecasters are tracking three tropical systems in the Atlantic, including a new tropical depression that has the potential to rapidly intensify into a major hurricane by early next week.

The system, which is expected to be named Nigel, is currently moving northwest on a path toward Bermuda.

It is not expected to impact any land in the meantime, but it could pose a threat to Bermuda in the next few days.

Tropical Depression 15 is the latest in a series of intense storms that have formed in the Atlantic this year.

Forecasters attribute the rapid formation of major storms to a spike in seawater temperatures in the Caribbean and off the coast of Florida to near-record levels.

Warm ocean temperatures are also partly the result of climate change, which is causing sea levels to rise and ocean temperatures to warm.

This is making hurricanes more powerful and destructive.

The 2023 season has already been above average, with 14 named storms, five hurricanes, and four major hurricanes forming so far.

This number already ties the number of named storms last year, with two-and-a-half months left until the official end of this year's hurricane season.

What to expect next:

Forecasters will continue to monitor Tropical Depression 15 and provide updates on its track and intensity. If the system becomes a hurricane, it will be named Nigel.

Residents in Bermuda should monitor the storm's track and be prepared for the possibility of hurricane-force winds, heavy rain, and coastal flooding.

What can you do:

If you live in a coastal area, make sure you have a hurricane and emergency plan in place.

This should include knowing where to go if you need to evacuate, having a stockpile of food and water, and having a way to stay informed about the storm.

You can also help your community prepare for hurricanes by volunteering with a local disaster relief organization or donating to one of these organizations.