Southeast on alert for possible tropical trouble off coast as Atlantic development chances grow
In addition to Tropical Storm Dexter, two other areas are being monitored for development this week – one off the Southeast coast and another in the Atlantic's Main Development Region between Africa and the Caribbean islands.
Atlantic gets active with two areas of disturbed weather monitored for tropical development
The National Hurricane Center is currently monitoring an area of disturbed weather off the Southeast coast, as well as in the Atlantic, for possible tropical development in the coming days. FOX Weather Meteorologists Bob Van Dillen and Stephen Morgan have the latest forecast on Aug. 6, 2025.
Tropical Storm Dexter is gaining strength as it continues to move away from the U.S., but the National Hurricane Center (NHC) is continuing to monitor an area of disturbed weather off the Southeast coast and in the central Atlantic Ocean that could develop into tropical depressions later this week or this weekend.
Hurricane Hunters were set to fly to the area off the Southeast coast to investigate the region for possible tropical development on Wednesday and Thursday, but those plans have since been canceled.
BRYAN NORCROSS: TROPICAL STORM DEXTER AND MORE AREAS TO WATCH IN THE ATLANTIC
(FOX Weather)
The NHC said an area of disturbed weather located several hundred miles off the southeastern U.S. coast is producing showers and thunderstorms, and forecasters said an area of low pressure is forecast to develop in a day or two.
The area is being stirred up by a stalled frontal boundary, the same one that helped to spawn Tropical Storm Dexter, which formed well east of North Carolina late Sunday night.
"A tropical depression could develop late this week or this weekend as the low drifts westward before gradually turning northward to northeastward by the weekend," the NHC said in its latest outlook.
The system has a low chance of developing over the next two days and a low chance of developing over the next seven days.
One of the main limiting factors for the development of this potential system would be dry air in the mid-levels of the atmosphere, according to the FOX Forecast Center.
Invest 96L forms in Atlantic's Main Development Region
Meanwhile, the NHC designated Invest 96L in the tropical Atlantic between Africa and the Caribbean islands, known as the Main Development Region.
A tropical wave over the far eastern tropical Atlantic moved off the coast of Africa on Monday and is headed in the general direction of the Caribbean. After showers and thunderstorm activity became more concentrated with the wave, the NHC gave the system the designation of Invest 96L.
Invest 96L is forecast to continue moving west-northwest across the central tropical and subtropical Atlantic this week and has a medium chance of developing.
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FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross said this system will likely take its time developing across the Atlantic and won't be a concern for about a week.
But forecast models indicate that conditions across the Atlantic have become more favorable for tropical development, which is right around the average time of year that this region becomes conducive for tropical activity.