Invest 92L, the tropical disturbance that for over a week struggled to organize yet brought memorable rain to Southwest Florida over the past several days, is now expected to develop in the Atlantic.
The National Hurricane Center upgraded the area of low pressure to Potential Tropical Cyclone Ten Sunday afternoon, giving it a 90% of formation Sunday evening.
As of 8 pm, maximum sustained winds were 35 mph as the low sat stationary northeast of Jacksonville. Satellite imagery shows the system has become somewhat better organized. Models are in good consensus that this system will track north, then northeast away from Florida over the next several days. Slight strengthening is possible and a tropical depression or storm is likely to form by Monday. Strong wind shear in the area will prevent Potential Tropical Cyclone Ten from becoming very strong. If it develops, it would inherit the name Irma.
It's important to note that Southwest Florida will not see any impacts from this system as it moves away from the state. However, Tropical Storm Watches have been issued for portions of the North and South Carolina coastline where heavy rain, high winds and rough surf are expected this week.
