Low Pressure East of the Bahamas Is More Likely to Be Named Kyle Adding to the 2026 List

A broad area of low pressure is forming from the tail of an old front that has been stalled east of the Bahamas for days. As the system moves east into the open ocean, it is expected to organize into a storm with winds over 40 mph.

Because the system will be energized by both the jet stream and is passing over the warm waters of the Atlantic, it will increasingly likely be given the name Subtropical Storm Kyle. A subtropical storm is not just powered by the warmth of the ocean like a tropical storm is.

The National Hurricane Center is putting the odds in the medium range that the system will take on enough tropical characteristics to get a name.

The odds are very high that a significant storm will develop. The only hedge is whether the jet stream is so dominant that the system acts more like a nor'easter than a storm that draws some of its energy from the ocean. The odds are increasing for a named subtropical storm, however.

The powerful jet stream that is ripping across the Southeast U.S. and into the Atlantic is a trademark sign of a strong El Niño. This kind of pattern can generate strong non-tropical low-pressure systems, and we’ll likely see more of them this winter.

As long as the ocean water is warm enough to support some tropical development, these hybrid systems will be possible. But they are unlikely to be a threat to the U.S. and surrounding areas.