Hurricane Helene victims are warned to brace for new tropical threat in just days

Victims of Hurricane Helene are being advised to brace themselves once again as a new tropical storm may be heading their way this weekend. 

Forecasters predict a tropical depression could form in the Gulf of Mexico to trigger rain and thunderstorms over the next few days. 

Scattered showers, high winds and lightning are expected over portions of the northwestern Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico due to a trough of low pressure, the National Weather Channel said in an advisory.  

'Environmental conditions could support some gradual development of this system over the Gulf of Mexico this weekend while the system drifts eastward,' it said. 

'Regardless of development, locally heavy rains could occur over portions of Mexico during the next few days and over portions of the Florida Peninsula by the weekend.'

The federal agency also clarified that while there is a zero percent chance that Floridians would experience downpour in the next 48 hours, there is a 30 percent chance in the next seven days. 

The National Hurricane Center predicts that the storm will develop over the northwestern Caribbean Sea and the southern Gulf of Mexico. 

According to UPI.com, the new natural disaster may be named Leslie or Milton depending on hurricane activity in the Atlantic by forecasters. 

While Florida has the biggest odds of experiencing heavier rain totals, forecasters also expect nearby states to flood. 

'Another serious threat for a tropical storm or hurricane could eventually emerge from this area of concern. It's in the same general area in the northwestern Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico where Helene got started.

'Experts are identifying this as a medium risk area for a tropical storm to develop. It could find itself in the southern Gulf of Mexico and then be a threat to the Gulf Coast. If it tracks toward Florida, that would be extra special concern after the serious impact this week from Helene,' AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter noted. 

This comes as Hurricane Helene continues to wreck havoc on numerous states. 

As of October 2, over 160 people are confirmed dead in six states as historic rainfall from the hurricane has flooded entire towns, washed away homes, damaged many of the highways, and devastated the region.

President Joe Biden also sent 1,000 active-duty soldiers to North Carolina to help with the response to Hurricane Helene, the White House announced yesterday.

The troops, who are stationed at Fort Liberty, N.C., will help with the distribution of food, water and other supplies.

The Department of Defense already has activated 22 helicopters to aid in search and rescue operations and provided dozens of high-water vehicles.

In total, FEMA has shipped over 8.5 million meals, more than 7 million liters of water, 150 generators and over 220,000 tarps to aid response efforts for this historic storm, the White House said.

Biden made the announcement shortly before departing for a tour of North Carolina and South Carolina, where toured the storm damage.

He and and Vice President Kamala Harris made separate trips south on Wednesday to see a trio of states devastated by Hurricane Helene.

The White House said he will visit Georgia and Florida on Thursday.