Approximately six weeks remain in the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 through Nov. 30, and the tropics continue to remain active as forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami continue to monitor two areas of interest.
The first area being watched closely is located over the central Atlantic Ocean, while the second area of disturbed weather is centered over the western Caribbean Sea.
The area of low pressure located over the central Atlantic Ocean, designated Invest 94L, has been producing showers and thunderstorms ever since its formation near the Cabo Verde Islands.
As the system moves westward, it’s expected to move into environmental conditions that are more conducive for gradual development by the middle to latter part of this week, forecasters said in a 7 a.m. CT update Tuesday. A tropical depression could form as it approaches or moves near the Leeward Islands and into the Caribbean Sea.
The hurricane center currently gives Invest 94L a medium 60% chance of development over the next seven days. Those odds remain unchanged from Monday’s updates, but still slightly higher than predictions from over the weekend.
“It is possible for the feature to ramp up quickly to a tropical depression, tropical storm and hurricane as its core approaches or passes near the Leewards late this week,” Alex DaSilva, AccuWeather’s lead hurricane expert, said in an update. “But, as this system travels farther to the west, whatever it becomes, could run into more hostile conditions for strengthening and organization.”
Anyone planning to travel to popular warm-weather destinations like Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands should continue to monitor the forecast.
Storm-battered Florida, which had direct impacts from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, doesn’t appear to be in the path of Invest 94L at this time. However, that could change over time depending on the position and strength of other weather features, AccuWeather said.
Area of concern in western Caribbean Sea
In addition to Invest 94L, the hurricane center continues to keep an eye on an area of concern over the western Caribbean sea.
The broad area of low pressure could develop over the southwestern Caribbean Sea by the middle to latter portions of this week, forecasters said. Some gradual development is possible thereafter if the system stays over water while it moves slowly west-northwestward towards northern Central America.
Regardless of development, the system is expected to bring heavy rainfall to across portions of Central America later this week.
So far, the hurricane center has given the system a low 20% chance of development over the next seven days.
Like Invest 94L, this system isn’t expected to move toward the Gulf of Mexico or the United States.
“The northward path of this feature is currently blocked and should stay blocked,” AccuWeather’s DaSilva said.