SOUTHEAST U.S. - While the U.S. and Puerto Rico are still recovering from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, another tropical storm is threatening to fill in the map along the U.S. Gulf Coast. Tropical Storm Nate, currently building strength in the Caribbean, may strengthen to a hurricane this weekend and make landfall between Harvey-ravaged Texas and Irma-impacted Florida, according to a report by Accuweather.
"In all likelihood, this storm will impact areas not severely impacted by Harvey or Irma. The extent of the damage will depend, of course, on the precise path and whether the storm intensifies beyond a Category 1 storm," AccuWeather Founder, President, and Chairman Dr. Joel N. Myers said in the report.
Currently, the storm is projected to make landfall between the Florida Panhandle and southeastern Louisiana. As it stands, the storm will have to track much farther East or West in order to compound the damage already caused by the previous storms.
Low-lying coastal areas, such as New Orleans, are particularly vulnerable and should treat Nate as a serious threat.
"New Orleans levees that have been upgraded since Katrina and pumps that have been repaired in recent weeks may be tested this weekend," according to AccuWeather Expert Meteorologist and Chief Operating Officer Evan Myers.
Category 1 storms may quickly escalate to Category 2 or 3 status in a matter of hours, and residents of the vulnerable areas should be prepared to act quickly.
"Since the system will be moving over very warm waters, we could quickly have a powerful hurricane on our hands," according to AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski.
AndNowUKnow will continue to follow the path of Tropical Storm Nate leading up to the PMA Fresh Summit in New Orleans.
