Alabama Watches Closely for Potential Tropical Wave Development

The Townsquare Media Weather Center is closely monitoring the possible future development of the well-defined tropical wave known as Invest 97L.

Current Status of Invest 97L

As of this report, a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms is affecting Hispaniola, the southeastern Bahamas, eastern Cuba, and the adjacent waters of the southwestern Atlantic.

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Essential Factors that Alabamians Should Know

The National Hurricane Center gives the system an “80 percent chance of development.”

A tropical depression is expected to form this weekend over the Straits of Florida or the eastern Gulf of Mexico near the Florida Peninsula.

Updated tracking is now more aligned across many weather models.

The broad tropical system's current trajectory is expected to parallel Florida's west coast tomorrow before turning northeastward across North Florida and the South Atlantic coast on Sunday and Monday.

Most model ensemble members indicate that the system will stay below hurricane strength over the next five days, primarily resulting in heavy rainfall.

Tropical storm watches or warnings could be required for portions of Florida later today.

What Does This Mean for Alabama and the Coastline

James Spann, ABC 33/40 and Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa Chief Meteorologist, said, “The primary impact from this system will be southeast of Alabama and east of the Central Gulf Coast (Gulf Shores to Panama City Beach). In fact, it looks like showers and storms will be very sparse across Alabama next week.”

As always, I encourage Alabamians to keep updated on weather conditions and tracking because this forecast of Invest 97L is subject to change due to weather conditions and tracking information.

Mary K. – Weather Forecaster