A potential tropical storm, which would be named Nadine, is forming in the central Atlantic with a low chance of developing into a hurricane. It’s expected to pass near the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Bahamas, though strong winds may prevent further strengthening. Annalisa Bracco, professor in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, says very warm sea surface temperature — the engine in terms of energy for the storm to grow — along with low wind shear and low surface salinity, help storms intensify by concentrating the high temperatures near the surface.