Go Back
  • For Business
  • |
  • Warnings
  • Data Suite
  • Newsletters
  • Advertising
  • Superior Accuracy™
A week after deadly Texas flooding, hope fades but resilience grows. Chevron right
Recovery teams, displaced residents in Texas face brutal heat. Chevron right

Columbus, OH

71°F
Location Chevron down
Location News Videos
Use Current Location
Recent

Columbus

Ohio

71°
No results found.
Try searching for a city, zip code or point of interest.
settings
Columbus, OH Weather
Today WinterCast Local {stormName} Tracker Hourly Daily Radar MinuteCast Monthly Air Quality Health & Activities

Around the Globe

Hurricane Tracker

Severe Weather

Radar & Maps

News

News & Features

Astronomy

Business

Climate

Health

Recreation

Sports

Travel

For Business

Warnings

Data Suite

Newsletters

Advertising

Superior Accuracy™

Video

Winter Center

AccuWeather Early Hurricane Center Top Stories Trending Today Astronomy Heat Climate Health Recreation In Memoriam Case Studies Blogs & Webinars

News / Hurricane

Yet another tropical system could develop on Epsilon's heels

By Renee Duff, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

Published Oct 17, 2020 2:08 PM EDT

Copied

Following a brief pause in the record-setting 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, the Tropical Atlantic has come back to life with the formation of Tropical Storm Epsilon.

A total of 26 systems have reached tropical storm strength or greater so far in the Atlantic Ocean this season, with the most recent storm now being Tropical Storm Epsilon. This season is rapidly closing in on the record of 28 named storms set in 2005. That year was also the only other year that the Greek alphabet had to be utilized.

The next system to reach tropical storm strength, or have maximum sustained winds of 39 mph or greater, would take on the name Zeta.

Well south and west of Epsilon, AccuWeather meteorologists are actively monitoring an area of the Caribbean Sea where a weather system called a gyre may form, and could spin up the next named system.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP

"A gyre is a slowly spinning area of low pressure that generates areas of showers and thunderstorms. A gyre itself does not typically evolve into a tropical system, but disturbances that are drawn into the unsettled setup can develop into tropical depressions, tropical storms and even hurricanes," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said.

"An area of low pressure is expected to develop by the end of the week over the western portion of the Caribbean Sea," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Rob Miller said. "However, the likelihood of this low developing into a tropical depression or storm is lessening."

Related:

The weather pattern fueling much of 2020's wild hurricane season
'I've had enough': Louisiana family contemplates leaving after consecutive hurricanes
AccuWeather tropical headquarters
Tropical Storm Epsilon likely to strengthen further before eyeing Bermuda

This lower risk of tropical development is due in part to stronger and more persistent wind shear over the northwestern Caribbean Sea.

Even if tropical development does not occur, forecasters say the slow-moving low is likely to generate days of tropical downpours and the risk for flash flooding. This includes the Yucatan Peninsula where Hurricane Delta struck just weeks ago.

"Locally heavy downpours will be possible through midweek across Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, Cuba and Central America from this area of low pressure," Miller said.

Beyond this week, warm waters over much of the Atlantic basin and the Caribbean are likely to generate additional systems during November and even December. As a result, meteorologists believe there is a high chance that the season could tie or break the record number of tropical storms of 28 set in 2005.

Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.

Report a Typo
Comments that don't add to the conversation may be automatically or manually removed by Facebook or AccuWeather. Profanity, personal attacks, and spam will not be tolerated.
Comments
Hide Comments

Weather News

Weather News

A week after deadly Texas flooding, hope fades but resilience grows

Jul. 10, 2025
Severe Weather

Rounds of severe storms to rattle, drench central US

Jul. 11, 2025
video

Abandoned cars submerged by severe flooding in North Carolina

Jul. 10, 2025
video

Before-and-after pictures show devastation caused by Texas floods

Jul. 9, 2025
Severe Weather

Severe weather to rumble in the central US through the holiday weekend

Jul. 6, 2025
Weather News

Record sargassum seaweed piles up on Caribbean islands, Gulf

Jul. 2, 2025
Weather News

Alabama teen in ICU after lightning strike hits boat, causing burns an...

Jul. 2, 2025
Show more Show less Chevron down

Topics

AccuWeather Early

Hurricane Center

Top Stories

Trending Today

Astronomy

Heat

Climate

Health

Recreation

In Memoriam

Case Studies

Blogs & Webinars

Top Stories

Weather Forecasts

Texas Hill Country recovery, cleanup teams to face brutal July weather

45 minutes ago

Weather News

State inspection before floods found Camp Mystic had emergency plan

22 hours ago

Weather News

Deadly flash flooding devastates wildfire-scarred New Mexico town

10 hours ago

Astronomy

1st full moon of summer to rise Thursday night

1 day ago

Weather News

Most Texas flood victims face devastation without flood insurance

20 hours ago

More Stories

Featured Stories

Health

How can families handle new anxieties around summer camp?

16 hours ago

AccuWeather Ready

Floodwater rising in your house? Do this

2 days ago

Weather News

Orcas are bringing humans gifts of food – but why?

16 hours ago

Weather News

Earthquake swarm detected at Mount Rainier, biggest since 2009

21 hours ago

Weather News

The US has a plan to breed millions of flies and drop them from planes

16 hours ago

AccuWeather Hurricane Yet another tropical system could develop on Epsilon's heels
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
© 2025 AccuWeather, Inc. "AccuWeather" and sun design are registered trademarks of AccuWeather, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | About Your Privacy Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

...

...

...