ORLANDO, Fla. – All eyes remain on the tropics as the peak of hurricane season nears.
Hurricane season runs from June through November, with Sept. 10 considered the peak.
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And the tropics are busy.
Invest 95L, located over the central tropical Atlantic about 1,230 miles east of the Lesser Antilles, developed into Tropical Storm Lee on Tuesday afternoon. It is moving west-northwest at 16 mph, with 50 mph maximum sustained winds.
Environmental conditions are conducive for further development and it’s forecast to become a hurricane in a couple of days and a major hurricane in a few days. A major hurricane is Category 3 or higher.
Computer models continue to show the system curving away from Florida, but it’s too soon to be certain of its path.
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Meantime, a strong tropical wave is forecast to move off the coast of west Africa on Tuesday.
Environmental conditions appear conducive for development once the wave moves offshore, and a tropical depression could form over the far eastern tropical Atlantic during the middle to the latter part of the week while the system moves to the west or west-northwest at 10 to 15 mph.
The system is expected to move across the Cabo Verde Islands Wednesday night and Thursday, and interests there should monitor its progress.
Experts say there’s a 20% chance of tropical development over the next two days and a 70% chance within a week.
The next named storm will be called Margot.