After a quiet hurricane season so far, activity in the Atlantic is picking up. As of Aug. 12, National Hurricane Center forecasters are keeping an eye on Tropical Storm Cristobal, which formed unexpectedly east of Bermuda, and systems associated with two tropical waves in the Atlantic that could each develop into something more.
The first, designated as Invest 92L, is expected to become a tropical depression within the next day or two as it moves west across the Atlantic. Another one behind it, a few hundred miles south of the Cabo Verde Islands, is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms. That one has been designated Invest 94L.
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Tropical Storm Cristobal is predicted to be short-lived as it wanders into the cooler waters of the central Atlantic well east of Bermuda. Upper-level winds are likely to become too strong for development as Invest 92L approaches the Lesser Antilles this weekend. Invest 94L could form late this week or this weekend while the wave moves westward or west- northwestward across the eastern and central tropical Atlantic, forecasters said.
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Invest 94L spaghetti models. See expected path
Special note about spaghetti models: Spaghetti model illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The Hurricane Center uses only the top four or five highest performing models to help make its forecasts.
Invest 94L could become tropical depression by weekend
At 5 p.m., Aug. 12, the National Hurricane Center said Invest 94L could become a tropical depression toward the end of the week or into the weekend.
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What impact could Invest 94L have on Florida?
The wave is still just a few hundred miles off the coast of Africa. Forecasters will have a better idea of the path if it continues to develop.
Ahead of it, Invest 92L will be threatening the Lesser Antilles and Puerto Rico, according to Nick Arman, AccuWeather forecasting operations meteorologist, via email Aug. 12.
“As this tropical wave approaches the northern Lesser Antilles later this week into this weekend, it will begin to encounter more wind shear, which should help to limit strengthening,” he said, adding that if it remains weak it could turn toward the Southeast coast but a wall of wind shear would likely disrupt it.
Invest 94L may run into the same issues.
What will be next named storms in Atlantic basin?
Dolly and Eduard are the next two names for the Atlantic basin, which covers the Atlantic, Gulf of America and Caribbean.
How strong are winds for a tropical depression?
A tropical depression has maximum sustained surface winds — based on a one-minute average — of 38 mph or less, according to the National Weather Service.
How strong are winds for a tropical storm?
A tropical storm has maximum sustained surface winds ranging from 39-73 mph.
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Cheryl McCloud is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida’s service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: See latest spaghetti models for Invest 94L. Is there a Florida threat?
Reporting by C. A. Bridges and Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Treasure Coast Newspapers
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By C. A. Bridges and Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida | USA TODAY Network
