The National Hurricane Center is giving a tropical wave located east of Puerto Rico an 80 percent chance of developing over the next five days. The disturbance, designated “Invest 99L,” is expected to strengthen as it moves to the west-northwest. Computer guidance models are split over where the system will go next, with about an even split as to whether it will curve to the north and impact Florida and the east coast or continue into the Gulf of Mexico.
Another system currently active is Tropical Storm Gaston, located about midway across the Atlantic Ocean. The storm is expected to strengthen into a hurricane before curving out to sea, and looks highly unlikely to impact the United States directly.
2016 thus far has only seen seven named storms. The most recent forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts 12 to 17 named storms for this season.
Invest 99L will be named Hermine if it develops.