Tropical Atlantic Waves to Watch

news image
Special Stories
19 Aug 2020 6:00 AM
We are monitoring three tropical disturbances in the Atlantic Basin. Two of them are likely to further develop over the next five days. The first tropical wave passed through the Windward Islands recently and is now moving through the eastern Caribbean Sea. It's moving at around 20 mph and is currently a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms. The system, named Invest 97L (for now), is expected to organize further as it continues to move westward. In terms of the forecast models, our spaghetti plots are in good agreement with the storm moving through to the western Caribbean Sea. Longer term, solutions begin to vary, as the models take the storm into the Gulf of Mexico. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) gives this storm a 40% chance to become a tropical system within the next couple of days, but 80% chance by 5 days. The second tropical wave is still over the eastern Atlantic and is forecast to interact with another disturbance. This wave has a high chance (90%) of tropical development in 2 to 5 days and will be the next system to watch. The National Hurricane Center says "Environmental conditions are conducive for further development, and a tropical depression is expected to form during the next day or two while the system moves generally west-northwestward at 15 to 20 mph across the central and western portions of the tropical Atlantic." A large area of showers and thunderstorms is associated with a third tropical wave set to emerge off the coast of Africa. Development is not expected in the near term. The next name to listen for if any of these disturbances get named will be "Laura". Usually in the month of August there are three paths that storms typically follow as seen below. And as our models have forecast they are likely to follow suit as well. For more information on the Atlantic follow us on twitter, @WeatherNation! https://twitter.com/WeatherNation/status/1295782707696414720  
All Weather News
More
Tropics: Champi Bears Down on Guam, Pacific Staying Active

Tropics: Champi Bears Down on Guam, Pacific Staying Active

Isaias ended the late-season streak of no hur

16 Oct 2026 6:00 PM
Several Fires Break Out in SoCal Amid Santa Ana Wind Event

Several Fires Break Out in SoCal Amid Santa Ana Wind Event

Santa Ana winds helped several fires grow qui

16 Oct 2026 5:00 PM
Frost & Freeze Alerts Issued Behind Strong Cold Front

Frost & Freeze Alerts Issued Behind Strong Cold Front

After record heat impacted much of the Centra

16 Oct 2026 12:30 PM
Severe Risk Diminishing Saturday Morning for the Northeast

Severe Risk Diminishing Saturday Morning for the Northeast

Severe Storm PotentialSevere risk is decreasi

16 Oct 2026 10:20 AM
Flooding & Severe Storms Persist in the Southern Plains

Flooding & Severe Storms Persist in the Southern Plains

Extreme rainfall has been hitting areas of Te

16 Oct 2026 2:00 AM
Cooler Air & Lingering Snow for The Rockies

Cooler Air & Lingering Snow for The Rockies

A digging trough is bringing cooler temperatu

15 Oct 2026 10:00 AM
Rachel Spreading Moisture Across the Southwest

Rachel Spreading Moisture Across the Southwest

Rachel came ashore in far northwestern Mexico

13 Oct 2026 12:10 AM