Invest 94L
The National Hurricane Center is currently monitoring several tropical disturbances, with Invest 94L garnering significant attention as it shows increasing potential for development into a tropical storm. Located in the eastern Atlantic, 94L is exhibiting organized thunderstorm activity, with projections indicating a possible track towards the Florida coastline. Meteorologists are closely observing its development, although the path and intensity remain uncertain. Communities in the potential impact zone are advised to stay vigilant as updates become available.
Meanwhile, the remnants of Invest 92L continue to be of interest, as it lingers with low chances of further development. In addition to these systems, past storms like Humberto and Imelda have provided valuable data, helping refine prediction models for future events. States such as Florida remain on high alert during hurricane season, regularly assessing preparedness levels in anticipation of any storm impacts. Experts emphasize the importance of continued monitoring and preparation, urging residents to review emergency plans.
A new tropical wave has been identified along 26W and is generating scattered moderate convection from 07N to 12N between 24W and 30W. Another wave is located along 37.5W, moving westward with moderate to strong convection observed from 07N to 14N between 30W and 43W. Additional tropical waves are noted near 58.5W and across the central Caribbean along 74W, producing isolated convection and scattered convection, respectively.
The Gulf of Mexico is dominated by a ridge of high pressure, resulting in gentle to moderate wind flow. However, there are fresh to locally strong winds over the NE Gulf and near the Yucatan Peninsula. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are occurring across parts of the NE Gulf and north of 28.5N. A weak pressure pattern will prevail, supporting mostly gentle to moderate winds and slight to moderate seas.
In the Caribbean Sea, fresh to strong winds prevail in the south-central region with seas up to 8 feet. Scattered showers are affecting the SW Caribbean and coastal areas of Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. High pressure north of the Caribbean will maintain strong trades and rough seas in the south-central Caribbean. Moderate to fresh trades will continue in other areas with lighter winds expected elsewhere.
The Atlantic Ocean features a stationary front with associated scattered showers and thunderstorms south of the front. The Azores High influences gentle to moderate trade winds with areas of fresh winds near the Lesser Antilles. Seas range from 6 to 8 feet east of 63W. Saharan Air continues to influence the Tropical Atlantic. The stationary front is expected to weaken, leading to mostly light to gentle winds north of 23N, while moderate to locally fresh trades will persist south of 22N.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has forecasted an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season for 2025.
Named Storms: 8 to 14
Hurricanes: 3 to 6
Major Hurricanes (Category 3 or higher): 1 to 3
Accumulate Cyclone Energy (ACE): 95% to 180% of the median
Primary Influencing Factor: Developing El Niño conditions expected to suppress Atlantic storm activity
This forecast indicates:
Despite the lower forecast, NOAA emphasizes that it only takes one hurricane making landfall to create a major disaster, and residents in hurricane-prone areas should still prepare as usual for the season.
Hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30Key: Active Past Future
*Press/click the storm name to view additional detailsDespite fewer total storms than forecasted, the 2025 season produced several extremely intense hurricanes, including three Category 5 systems, making it one of the more powerful Atlantic seasons in recent history.
2020 - 30 named storms, 14 hurricanes
Hurricane Katrina (2005) - $125 billion
Harvey (2017) - $125 billion
Hurricane Patricia (2015) - 215 mph (345 km/h)
Hurricane Allen (1980) - 190 mph (305 km/h)
The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a 1 to 5 rating system that classifies hurricanes based on their sustained wind speeds and the potential damage they can cause. It helps communicate the intensity of hurricanes and the likely impacts on structures and environments. The scale does not account for factors like storm surge or rainfall, focusing only on wind speeds.
Watching the Tropics was originally built as a personal storm tracker with only the most important charts for the Atlantic hurricane basin. Numerous sites are available for tracking hurricanes, but Watching the Tropics minimizes extra "noise" and shows only what you need.
Designed in Florida by
"Watching the tropics" refers to monitoring tropical weather systems, such as tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes, in regions close to the equator. Meteorologists and weather enthusiasts often use this phrase during hurricane season to indicate that they're keeping an eye on developing weather systems that could potentially strengthen and impact areas like the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and Atlantic Ocean.
Websites, news outlets, or weather services also use "Tropics Watch" to keep the public informed about the latest developments in the tropics, especially during peak hurricane season.
An "invest" refers to an area of disturbed weather that meteorologists are investigating for potential tropical development. The term "invest" is short for "investigation area."
When an area is designated as an invest, it is given a number (between 90 and 99) followed by the letter "L" for systems in the North Atlantic or "E" for systems in the Eastern Pacific. For example, "Invest 91L" would refer to the 91st area of interest in the Atlantic basin for that season.
The designation of an invest allows meteorologists to focus their resources on a specific area, utilize specialized forecasting models, and issue updates as needed.
A tropical depression is a type of tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of less than 39 mph (34 knots or 63 km/h).
Key characteristics:
It's the first stage of development in the tropical cyclone classification used by the National Hurricane Center, followed by tropical storm and then hurricane.
