Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center (NHC) are keeping a close eye on four tropical disturbances swirling in the Atlantic basin, including newly designated Invest 99L off the U.S. East Coast and Invest 90L off the Gulf Coast.
“Invest” is simply a naming convention used by the NHC in Miami, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC) in Honolulu, Hawaii, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, to identify areas they are monitoring for the possibility of developing into a tropical depression or tropical storm within the next seven days.
Invest 99L is located several hundred miles east of North Carolina, producing showers and thunderstorms northeast and east of the center of the system, according to the NHC.
Invest 99L may gain subtropical characteristics while moving north-northeastward over the next few days.
On Thursday, the NHC said showers and thunderstorms associated with Invest 99L were becoming more organized and producing strong winds.
Invest 99L is expected to remain off the northeast coast, with no further subtropical development expected once the system moves into cooler waters by late Saturday.
NHC sees little chance of Invest 99L developing.
90L Investment Near Texas Coast as Rainy Weather Hits Gulf Coast
The disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Texas and Louisiana has been named “Invest 90L” by the NHC and is being monitored for possible tropical development over the next few days.
The storm has dumped heavy rain on the Gulf Coast in recent days, but the NHC downgraded its chances of occurrence earlier this week.
But in an update Thursday morning, the NHC again said it would monitor the system and gave it the investment designation later the same day.
The NHC said upper-level winds are expected to become unfavorable for development by Friday and Saturday as the front approaches the region.
“Things aren't likely to get worse, but heavy rainfall is expected across parts of the northern Gulf Coast over the next day or so,” the NHC said.
The NHC believes it is unlikely that the system will ever be developed.
Caribbean disturbance could expand as it enters the Gulf of Mexico
A tropical disturbance is moving rapidly westward over the Western Caribbean at approximately 20 miles per hour and continues to produce widespread, disruptive showers and thunderstorms.
The NHC said some development is possible over the next few days after the system moves across Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula and then into the southwestern Gulf of Mexico.
The system is not expected to develop further over the next week.
Eastern Atlantic tropical disturbance may develop slowly
A tropical disturbance in the eastern tropical Atlantic is producing widespread, turbulent showers and thunderstorms.
The NHC said the storm was likely to intensify slowly over the next few days as it moved northwestward or northward.
Any disruptions are unlikely in the coming week.
