Atlantic tropics may welcome Fernand soon as 90L on brink of development
The cluster of showers and thunderstorms, currently designated as Invest 90L, is getting a bit better organized Saturday as it starts to swirl a few hundred miles north of the northern Leeward Islands, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Invest 90L on the verge of becoming Tropical Storm Fernand
A developing low pressure center about 400 miles away from Bermuda is gaining organization and strength Saturday afternoon.
MIAMI – The Atlantic hurricane season is on the cusp of welcoming its sixth named storm to the record books, giving Bermuda yet another storm to sweat the track, but letting the U.S. off the hook.
Air Force hurricane hunters found that the cluster of showers and thunderstorms, currently designated as Invest 90L, has now developed into a low-pressure center about 400 miles south-southeast of Bermuda and is continuing to get better defined.
The National Hurricane Center now gives "near 100%" certainty the storm will develop into a tropical storm.
"This system is expected to become a tropical storm this afternoon or evening, with further intensification likely through Sunday while the low moves northward at 10 to 15 mph over the southwestern Atlantic," the NHC wrote in its Saturday afternoon tropics update.
Once the storm reaches tropical storm status, it'll take the name Fernand.
But the same "atmospheric barrier" weather pattern that prevented Hurricane Erin from ever reaching the Atlantic coast shores is still protecting the East Coast this weekend. Thus, future-Fernand is expected to also stay safely offshore -- in fact, head even farther east than Erin's track.
More good news: Most computer forecast guidance is in agreement that while the storm has some potential for further development Sunday, odds are it'll remain a tropical storm, or maybe a low-end hurricane.
The storm may pass close enough to Bermuda this time for some potential impacts, but that threat is waning a bit.
"Interests in Bermuda should monitor the progress of this system, though the threat to that island appears to be less than (Friday)," the NHC said.
Once past Bermuda, the storm is forecast to continue to churn north in the open waters, eventually fizzling well offshore of the Canadian Maritimes.
Invest 99L struggling to maintain relevancy
Meanwhile, farther south, the tropical wave known as Invest 99L is on its way to becoming more of a tropical footnote.
This cluster of showers and thunderstorms about 1,000 miles east of the Caribbean's Windward Islands has become even less organized over the past day, according to the NHC, as wind shear takes a toll.
That unfavorable environment will persist throughout 99L's journey Saturday, leaving its prospects of further development dim.
The NHC is leaving a straggling chance of development on the board just because there are some slightly more favorable conditions for development looming Sunday and Monday as the storm gets closer to the Windward Islands, but this is most likely just going to bring some tropical showers.
By the time the wave gets into the Caribbean next week, it'll likely be torn apart.
Beyond 90L and 99L, the tropics look to take a break through the rest of August. However, September is the peak of hurricane season and tropical activity should eventually perk back to life.