CHARLOTTE, N.C. — With the peak of hurricane season just weeks away, the tropics will continue its seemingly endless onslaught of tropical systems as we close out August. Right now, the National Hurricane Center is tracking three areas of interest in the Atlantic. Two of the three storms being monitored at the moment will likely become tropical storms by the weekend. However, there’s only one storm that should catch Americans’ eyes.
A group of storms designated Invest 99L is currently swirling in the southern Caribbean. This storm likely won’t directly impact the Carolinas, but the Gulf Coast should remain vigilant as it moves northwestward. Very favorable conditions currently exist over the Gulf of Mexico, which could fuel explosive development over the weekend. Model trends aren’t looking good, either, as this storm could end up as a major hurricane before eventual landfall. Having said that, models are not gospel. There is a lot of distance between where 99L is now and where it needs to be for growth. We’ll need to watch this storm very carefully as it approaches the US from the south.
The peak of hurricane season comes on the week of September 10, on average. Over 80% of all hurricanes on record form between August and October. Tropical systems will likely be a major headline over the next month or so as we head deeper into the heart of the season. Stay tuned with our WCCB Weather Team and download our WCCB Weather App so you can stay WeatherWise.
