ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The next name on the Atlantic hurricane season list is poised to be checked off this weekend as National Hurricane Center forecasters predict a tropical depression or tropical storm to develop.
The tropics have been showing signs of some activity as June nears its end and the NHC is keeping a close eye on three disturbances: one set to move into the Gulf of Mexico and two impacting the eastern Atlantic Ocean.
The first disturbance, now designated as Invest 95-L, is located a few hundred miles southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands. The NHC says the disturbance has become better organized with a more concentrated area of thunderstorms, based on satellite images. This system has the potential to develop this weekend into a tropical depression or storm, according to forecasters.
In fact, it has a 100% chance of becoming at least a depression over the next day or so.
"Environmental conditions are forecast to be unusually conducive for late June across the central and western tropical Atlantic, and further development of this system is anticipated," NHC forecasters said.
The second system, designated as Invest 94-L, could impact the western Caribbean and southwestern Gulf of Mexico. It's currently sitting in the western Caribbean Sea. The disturbance is producing disorganized shower activity and is quickly moving to the west-northwest at 15 mph.
NHC forecasters say environmental conditions could become more favorable for tropical development over the weekend as it moves over the western Caribbean or southwestern Gulf of Mexico. But it's not a high chance for development.
As of Friday afternoon, there's only a 30% chance of development over the next 48 hours and 30% over the next week.
The third disturbance is even farther out in the Atlantic with a low, 30% chance of development over the next week.
Just under a month into the official start of hurricane season, one system has developed enough to be named a tropical storm. Alberto was named on June 19 when it was close to making landfall over Mexico in the Gulf. It was a relatively short-lived system that quickly weakened to a depression once it made landfall and then dissipated over land.
The next name on the list is Beryl.