MIAMI— A tropical disturbance that spent days in the Atlantic Ocean struggling to organize came to life Saturday and is now likely just hours away from developing into a tropical depression or even a tropical storm.

The storm, currently named Invest 94L, suddenly developed a well-defined center Saturday morning and continues to produce a concentrated area of ​​showers and thunderstorms as it is less than 100 miles east of the Turks and Caicos Islands, according to National Hurricane. Center.

WHAT IS AN ‘INVESTMENT’?

Just 75 minutes after the NHC raised the probability of development from 30 to 60%, the agency issued a special statement advising of a tropical depression, or tropical depression.
storms are likely to hit later Saturday morning.

“Interests in the Turks and Caicos Islands, the southeastern Bahamas and eastern Cuba should closely monitor this system as tropical storm warnings may be necessary later (Saturday) morning,” the NHC said, adding that there are now 90% chance of becoming a tropical storm. cyclone.

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If the storm develops enough organization with winds of at least 60 km per hour, it would adopt the name Tropical Storm Oscar and become the second tropical storm to be named Saturday, joining Tropical Storm Nadine, which was named near Belize early Saturday morning baptized.

TROPICAL STORM NADINE THREATENS HOT RAIN IN BELIZE, SOUTHERN MEXICO

Invest 94L is expected to pass north of Hispanola on Saturday and then approach the Turks and Caicos Islands, the southeastern Bahamas and far eastern Cuba on Sunday, the NHC said. The storm could bring heavy rain, rough surf and gusty winds.

Could Invest 94L reach the US?

While the northern Caribbean islands should monitor 94L’s progress, the storm does not remain a threat to the US.

An extensive high-pressure ridge anchored over the east coast acts as a protective barrier, with a front at the ridge’s boundary providing hostile atmospheric conditions for tropical systems approaching Florida or the southeastern coast.