Is a tropical depression brewing? National Hurricane Center watching Invest 95L
See the latest on Tropical Storm Don as of Sunday, July 23, here.
The National Hurricane Center says a system in the central Atlantic is less organized than it was Friday, and it could become a tropical depression early next week.
Meanwhile, Hurricane Don formed just before reaching the cooler waters of the North Atlantic.
The low-pressure system ― currently named Invest 95L ― has a 60% chance to develop in the next week, according to the NHC's latest advisory.
The Hurricane Center is advising people in the Lesser Antilles to monitor the system. It's still too early to know whether the storm might impact the U.S.
If it becomes a named storm, it would be Emily.
Elsewhere, Don strengthened to a hurricane as of the NHC's 5 p.m. advisory. However, steady weakening should begin Saturday night or early Sunday. It is not expected to impact land.
The NHC is also monitoring two other tropical waves in the Atlantic. One is south of the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean, and its interaction with the Eastern Pacific monsoon trough is producing scattered showers and thunderstorms along the coast of southern Costa Rica and the coast of northern Panama.
Tracking the tropics: What deranged heat and sea temps tell us about hurricane season
Here's the latest update from the NHC as of 5 p.m.:
Hurricane Don
Location: 480 miles south-southeast of Cape Race, Newfoundland
Maximum wind speed: 75 mph
Direction: north at 12 mph
What's out there and where are they?
Hurricane Don: At 5 p.m., the center of Hurricane Don was located 480 miles south-southeast of Cape Race, Newfoundland. Exact location: near latitude 40.1 North, longitude 50.0 West.
Invest 95L: Shower activity related to a small area of low pressure, located midway between the Cabo Verde Islands and the Lesser Antilles, has become a little less organized since Friday.
Tropical wave 2: A tropical wave in the eastern Atlantic is located southwest of Cabo Verde. It's moving west at 11 to 17 mph. Exact location: along 33W from 05N to 19W.
Tropical wave 3: A tropical wave in the central Caribbean is located southwest of the Cayman Islands. It's moving west at 11 to 17 mph. Exact location: near 82W and south of 19N.
How likely is Hurricane Don to strengthen?
Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 75 mph, with higher gusts, making Don a Category 1 hurricane. Steady weakening should begin Saturday night or early Sunday, and Don is expected to become a post-tropical cyclone Sunday night.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles from the center, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles from the center.
What are the chances of Invest 95L strengthening?
Environmental conditions are forecast to remain mildly conducive for gradual development. The system could become a tropical depression early next week while it moves west across the tropical Atlantic.
Formation chance through 48 hours: 40 percent.
Formation chance through seven days: 60 percent.
Who is likely to be impacted?
No impact to land is expected from Hurricane Don.
It's too early at this time to determine if there will be any impact to the U.S. from the tropical waves.
Forecasters urge all residents to continue monitoring the tropics and to always be prepared.
Weather watches and warnings issued in Florida
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When is the Atlantic hurricane season?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.
When is the peak of hurricane season?
The peak of the season is Sept. 10, with the most activity happening between mid-August and mid-October, according to the Hurricane Center.
Tropical forecast over the next seven days
Excessive rainfall forecast
What's out there?
Systems currently being monitored by the National Hurricane Center.
What's next?
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This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Hurricane Don forms; NHC tracking possible tropical depression
