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Florida
AccuWeather predicting 1-3 tropical storms in November. Florida residents should be prepared
Threat for additional storms could extend into December
Areas of concern for the tropics as we head towards November
AccuWeather’s Bernie Rayno and Alex DaSilva monitor the Caribbean for potential tropical development from Oct. 30 to Nov. 2, as we head into the late stages of hurricane season.
AccuWeather is predicting high ocean temperatures could mean up to three tropical storms could form in November.
And then the news grows worse for Florida and the East Coast of the United States, which are still recovering from Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton.
Florida and the East Coast are the most likely to be impacted, AccuWeather forecasters said.
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The threat for additional storms could even extend into December, even though the official end of hurricane season is Nov. 30.
The next named storms of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season will be Patty, Rafael and Sara.
November could bring 1-3 tropical storms
“We’ve been saying since March that the end of this year’s hurricane season could be quite active,” said AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva.
“We’re expecting a late-season surge in the month of November with another one to three named storms possible in the Atlantic basin.”
DaSilva also said there’s a potential for tropical trouble extending into early December.
“We may even see a tropical storm in December this year. It doesn’t happen very often, but the very warm sea surface temperatures could make it possible this year.”
Climate Prediction Center issues ‘Global Tropics Hazards Outlook’ for November
NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is predicting up to a 40% chance of tropical development in the Caribbean between Oct. 30 and Nov. 5, and dropping to less than 20% for a tropical depression or greater in strength developing in the same area between Nov. 6 through Nov. 12.
Preliminary predictions for Nov. 13-19 call for less than 20% for a tropical depression or greater in strength developing in the Caribbean.
A “robust” Madden-Julian Oscillation brings the “potential for tropical cyclone development over the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean Sea during the week 1-2 period,” the Climate Prediction Center announced Oct. 28.
Why so many tropical storms this late in the season?
Extremely warm water temperatures, which have helped storms to develop throughout the season, are continuing to help tropical cyclones to form.
“Ocean temperatures continue to run above the historical average across the Caribbean and most of the Atlantic Ocean. There are also pockets of warmer water in the Gulf of Mexico,” AccuWeather said.
Another factor is the lack of wind shear. Without wind shear, a tropical storm can develop and strengthen.
“In addition to providing extra heat energy to fuel rapid intensification of tropical storms and hurricanes, those warm waters may also lengthen the hurricane season beyond what has been typically the norm over the past century,” said Brett Anderson, AccuWeather senior meteorologist and climate expert.
“An earlier start and a later end to the hurricane season may very well be what our near future holds.”
Florida, US East Coast at risk from November tropical storms
AccuWeather meteorologists said there is virtually no risk of direct impacts in November to the western Gulf of Mexico along the Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama coastline.
“The western and central Gulf of Mexico coastline likely will not see any direct impacts for the rest of this hurricane season.”
The news isn’t as good for Florida.
“We are concerned that areas, the entire state of Florida even up into the Carolinas, could be at risk of seeing another tropical impact this season,” DaSilva said.
Could Florida see a hurricane in early November?
“We’re becoming more confident that the next named storm in the Atlantic basin could form within the next week,” said AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno.
“There is a large area of high-pressure building across the northeast that has sent a stalled front southward. That sets off a chain reaction that begins with showers and thunderstorms in the southern Caribbean.”
“It wouldn’t shock me if we’re dealing with a hurricane potentially at one point early in November here,” DaSilva said, pointing to a system in the western Caribbean.
➤ Tropical storm? Hurricane?! It’s possible in early November. What Florida residents should know
➤ Tropics watch, Oct. 29: National Hurricane Center gives system in Caribbean 40% chance of developing. Florida impact?
The National Hurricane Center has given the system a 40 percent chance of development over the next seven days and are predicting it could become a tropical depression late this week or over the weekend.
AccuWeather has been predicting the system is likely to become a named storm in early November, although there’s a few different scenarios on where it could go.
A few of those scenarios could affect Florida, possibly sometime between Nov. 7-10.
- Northly track: “If a storm develops, it could move across Cuba or Hispaniola and move out into the open Atlantic, but we do have to watch for the possibility of eventual impacts to Florida. The area of high pressure could potentially block a storm from heading out to sea and essentially force the storm to turn west toward Florida,” DaSilva said.
- Western track: If the area of high pressure starts to weaken, it could allow the storm to turn to the north, with the possibility of an impact to South Florida.
When is the Atlantic hurricane season?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.
The Atlantic basin includes the northern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico.
Countdown clock: When will hurricane season end?
What’s next?
We will continue to update our tropical weather coverage daily. Download your local site’s app to ensure you’re always connected to the news. And look for our special subscription offers here.
Florida
Traffic stop goes viral after Florida deputy accuses driver missing right hand of holding phone
PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — Video of a traffic stop in Palm Beach County is going viral over an awkward exchange between the driver and a deputy who accused her of holding a phone while driving.
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“You drove past me holding a phone with your right hand, manipulating that phone,” the deputy tells 36-year-old Kathleen “Katie” Thomas.
“Obviously not,” Thomas says while laughing and holding up her right arm, showing that she’s missing her right hand.
“So you wanna call this a day?” she asks.
“I don’t want to call this a day. You had a hand up, manipulating,” the deputy responds.
“You just said my right hand,” Thomas counters.
“Well, I thought I saw your right hand,” the deputy says.
“So you didn’t,” Thomas responds.
Thomas posted the bodycam footage on Instagram and TikTok where it gained millions of likes.
In the video, although she shows the deputy she doesn’t have a right hand, the deputy doubled down.
“I’m asking you now; did you or not have your phone in your hand?” the deputy asks.
“I did not,” Thomas responds.
“You did not have your phone in your hand?” the deputy asks again.
“I did not,” Thomas responds.
“Hand to God, you didn’t have a phone in your hand?” the deputy asks.
“Hand to God,” Thomas says.
Court records show Thomas was given a $116 citation despite the presented evidence, but it was later dismissed at the request of the deputy involved.
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Florida
Blue Origin New Glenn rocket explodes on launch pad in Florida
A Blue Origin New Glenn rocket exploded Thursday night on a launch pad at Cape Canaveral in Florida.
The explosion occurred at about 9 p.m. ET. Blue Origin said there were no injuries from the incident.
“We experienced an anomaly during today’s hotfire test,” Blue Origin said in a statement. “All personnel have been accounted for. We will provide updates as we learn more.”
Cape Canaveral Space Force Station also confirmed in a separate statement that “all personnel have been accounted for and there were no injuries/fatalities.”
Blue Origin was scheduled to fuel the rocket Thursday evening ahead of a planned test firing of the rocket’s engines.
Blue Origin, which is owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, successfully launched its third New Glenn rocket last month.
This rocket was being prepared for the fourth New Glenn mission as soon as June 4 to launch 48 satellites for Amazon’s Leo internet service, which competes with Elon Musk’s Starlink.
The 48 satellites were not aboard the rocket during the test. It was not immediately clear how much damage the launch pad and ground equipment sustained, or how long it might take to repair it.
Space Launch Complex 36, where the explosion occurred, is the only launch pad equipped to launch New Glenn rockets.
The New Glenn rocket is key to Blue Origin’s and NASA’s moon base plans, and the explosion will likely be a setback. Next year, the New Glenn is supposed to launch another Blue Moon lander as part of the Artemis III mission in low Earth orbit.
In a social media post, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman wrote, “Spaceflight is unforgiving, and developing new heavy-lift launch capability is extraordinarily difficult. We will work with our partners to support a thorough investigation of this anomaly, assess near-term mission impacts, and get back to launching rockets.”
The New Glenn rocket had just been cleared on May 22 to return to flight after being grounded by the Federal Aviation Administration after an anomaly with the second stage during an April 19 launch.
In a statement Thursday, the FAA said it was aware that the rocket had “experienced an anomaly during a static fire test on the pad in Cape Canaveral, Florida,” adding that the “test was not within the scope of FAA licensed activities.”
The FAA also noted that “there was no impact to air traffic” from the explosion.
Bezos wrote on X Thursday night, “It’s too early to know the root cause but we’re already working to find it. Very rough day, but we’ll rebuild whatever needs rebuilding and get back to flying. It’s worth it.”
Musk wrote: “Sorry to see this, I hope you recover quickly.”
Florida
Florida to pay Sumrall’s assistants a combined $11.2M in 2026
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida coach Jon Sumrall’s assistants will make a combined $11.2 million in 2026, a significant investment for a program desperate to win more often.
Offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner tops the list after signing a three-year, $6.6 million contract to leave Georgia Tech and join Sumrall in Gainesville. Faulker will get $2.1 million in 2026 – the first $2 million coordinator in school history – and has a $100,000 raise set for each of the next two years.
Only six college offensive coordinators were paid $2 million or more in 2025, according to CBS Sports. Fifteen defensive coordinators topped $2 million.
Florida defensive coordinator Brad White signed a three-year, $5.85 million deal that starts at $1.85 million and also includes a $100,000 raise in 2027 and 2028.
The Gators released the contracts Thursday in response to a public records request.
Sumrall signed a six-year, $44.7 million contract last year that averages $7.45 million annually. The Gators will dole out more than $20 million to Sumrall, his staff of 15 assistants and a front office led by new general manager Dave Caldwell.
Four of the assistants are scheduled to earn at least $1 million during their deals.
Defensive line coach Gerald Chapman and offensive line coach Phil Trautwine will join Faulker and White in the seven-figure club. Chapman, the lone holdover from former Florida coach Billy Napier’s staff, will make $950,000 this year and $1 million in 2027. Trautwine, meanwhile, starts at $750,000 and jumps to $1 million. Both signed two-year deals.
Their salaries show Sumrall’s commitment to rebuilding the team along both lines of scrimmage in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference.
Napier’s 12-man coaching staff was paid a combined $7.5 million in 2025. The Gators posted three losing seasons in Napier’s four years.
The rest of Sumrall’s staff range between making $350,000 and $600,000 annually, all of them on two-year contracts.
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