Updated Aug. 24, 2026, 9:49 a.m. ET
- Invest 95L could strengthen into a tropical depression or storm early this week.
- A tropical wave moving off Africa could become a depression later this week.
Will we see Tropical Storm Dolly form early this week in the Atlantic?
It is possible Invest 95L could strengthen into a tropical depression or storm, according to the latest forecast from the National Hurricane Center.
In fact, we could see two tropical depressions develop in the Atlantic this week.
The next named storm of the season will be Dolly.
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It’s too early to tell whether Florida could feel any impacts from the two disturbances out there, but forecasters continue to warn residents should always be prepared.
Mid-August through mid-October is the busiest period of the Atlantic hurricane season.
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Here’s the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center as of 8 a.m., Aug. 24.
Will Invest 95L become Tropical Storm Dolly?
A broad area of low pressure centered a few hundred miles east-southeast of Bermuda continues to show signs of organization.
Additional development of the low is possible, and this system could become a short-lived tropical depression or storm during the next couple of days while it moves northward and north-northeastward, well northeast of Bermuda.
- Formation chance through 48 hours: medium, 50 percent
- Formation chance through 7 days: medium, 50 percent
Spaghetti models for Invest 95L
Special note about spaghetti models: Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The Hurricane Center uses only the top four or five highest performing models to help make its forecasts.
What is an invest?
Short for investigation, the National Hurricane Center uses the term invest for areas of low pressure it is monitoring for potential development into a tropical depression or storm.
Invests are not tropical depressions or tropical storms. They’re usually clusters of showers and thunderstorms, and just because they’ve been designated as an invest does not guarantee they’ll strengthen into a tropical storm or hurricane.
Invests run from 90 to 99, followed by a letter: L for the Atlantic basin and E for those in the eastern Pacific. After 99, it starts over again and the next invest would be 90.
Once something has been designated as an invest, specialized data sets and computer models can begin, including scheduling Hurricane Hunter aircraft missions and running spaghetti models.
Tropical wave could become tropical depression this week
A tropical wave and associated area of low pressure has moved offshore of west Africa with disorganized showers and thunderstorms.
Environmental conditions are forecast to be marginally conducive for development, and a tropical depression could form by the middle to latter portions of the week while the system moves generally westward at 15 to 20 mph across the eastern and central tropical Atlantic.
- Formation chance through 48 hours: low, 20 percent
- Formation chance through 7 days: medium, 60 percent
National Hurricane Center tracking 3 tropical waves in Atlantic basin
In addition to Invest 95L and the tropical wave expected to move off the coast of Africa Aug. 24, forecasters also are watching four tropical waves, including two in the Caribbean:
- An eastern Atlantic tropical wave has its axis near 40W south of 19N. It is moving westward at about 17 to 23 mph.
- A central Atlantic tropical wave has its axis along 58W south of 23N. It is moving westward at 17 mph.
- A central Caribbean tropical wave is near 70W south of 21N moving westward at 17 to 23 mph.
- The earlier tropical wave that was along 90W has moved well west of the Caribbean into the eastern Pacific.
What is a tropical wave?
“Tropical waves are clusters of showers and thunderstorms that act as the seedlings for many tropical storms throughout the Atlantic season,” said Alex DaSilva, AccuWeather lead hurricane expert, via email.
“There are about 60 tropical waves that move across the Atlantic each year, and roughly 10 percent to 15 percent of them develop into a tropical system. That’s about one in seven.
“Tropical waves are important because they contribute to about 80 percent of all major hurricanes.”
Is there a hurricane coming toward Florida?
No. While Invest 95L could strengthen into a tropical depression or even a tropical storm in the next day or two, the area of low pressure southeast of Bermuda is expected to move north or northeast.
It’s still too early to determine if the tropical wave expected to move off the coast of Africa later today could affect Florida or the United States.
It is expected to move west across the eastern and central Atlantic over the coming days and could become a tropical depression later this week.
What do the colored, hatched areas on the NHC map mean?
The hatched areas on the National Hurricane Center’s tropical outlook map indicate “areas where a tropical cyclone — which could be a tropical depression, tropical storm or hurricane — could develop,” said National Hurricane Center Deputy Director Jamie Rhome.
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The colors make it visibly clear how likely a system could develop, with orange medium and red high. In 2026, the tropical outlook will use a gray X to indicate disturbances with a low chance for development.
The National Hurricane Center generally doesn’t issue tropical advisories until there is a named storm, but there is an exception.
“If a system is near land and there is potential for development, the National Hurricane Center won’t wait before it issues advisories, even if the system hasn’t become an actual storm. This gives residents time to prepare,” Rhome said.
When is hurricane season in Florida?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.
Ninety-seven percent of tropical cyclone activity occurs during this time period, NOAA said.
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The Atlantic basin includes the northern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of America, as the Gulf of Mexico is now known in the U.S. per an order from President Trump. NOAA and the National Hurricane Center are now using Gulf of America on its maps and in its advisories.
Countdown clock to end of 2026 Atlantic hurricane season
Florida weather radar for Aug. 24, 2026
Weather watches and warnings issued in Florida
When is the peak of Atlantic hurricane season?
The peak of the season is Sept. 10, with the most activity happening between mid-August and mid-October, according to the Hurricane Center.
What are names for 2026 Atlantic hurricane season?
Here are the names for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season and how to pronounce them:
Arthur: Tropical Storm Arthur formed June 17, 2026Bertha: Tropical Storm Bertha formed July 20, 2026Cristobal: Tropical Storm Cristobal formed Aug. 12- Dolly, DAH-lee (fourth-named storm historically forms Aug. 15)
- Edouard, eh-DWARD
- Fay, fay
- Gonzalo, gohn-SAH-loh
- Hanna, HAN-uh
- Isaias, ees-ah-EE-ahs
- Josephine, JOH-seh-feen
- Kyle, KY-ull
- Leah, LEE-ah
- Marco, MAR-koe
- Nana, NA-na
- Omar, OH-mar
- Paulette, pawl-LET
- Rene, re-NAY
- Sally, SAL-ee
- Teddy, TEHD-ee
- Vicky, VIH-kee
- Wilfred, WILL-fred
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What’s next?
We will continue to update our tropical weather coverage to bring you the most current information you need to protect your home and family.
This story has been updated with new information.
Cheryl McCloud is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida’s service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://naplesnews.com/newsletters.
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