Invest 94L
As the Atlantic hurricane season intensifies, attention is focused on several tropical disturbances that have materialized in recent days. Invest 94L, a tropical wave, is one of the primary systems being monitored, though its potential to develop into a significant storm remains uncertain. While the National Hurricane Center continues to update its forecasts, the current projections suggest a low likelihood of Invest 94L impacting Florida significantly. Spaghetti models, which are used to predict potential storm paths, have shown varying outcomes, but overall indicate a possible trajectory away from major landmasses.
Simultaneously, Invest 92L and another system named Lala approaching Hawaii are also being observed. Both Invest 92L and 94L's development chances have diminished recently, offering a slight reprieve in the immediate future. The decrease in these systems' development potential has reduced the immediate threat level for the eastern United States as well as Hawaii. Residents in potentially affected areas are advised to stay informed through official updates, despite the current downturn in storm activity projections.
August 16, 2026, at 7:15 PM EDT
An eastern Atlantic tropical wave is moving westward with diminished convection, while a central Atlantic wave near 53W shows scattered moderate convection. In the Caribbean, a wave along 73W is causing scattered moderate convection from Hispaniola to Colombia. Meanwhile, a high pressure ridge over the Gulf of America is leading to gentle winds and slight seas, with increased winds near the Yucatan in the evenings. The Caribbean sees strong E winds and high seas in the central region, with moderate winds elsewhere. In the Atlantic, scattered moderate convection is present due to a pre-frontal trough, while a high pressure system maintains moderate seas and winds.
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.
