MIAMI – An area of disturbed weather spinning across the eastern Atlantic Ocean is continuing on its long journey to the west, and forecasters say the system could develop into a tropical depression as it approaches popular fall and winter travel destinations in the Caribbean. A second area to watch is also being monitored for development over the western Caribbean Sea.The eastern Atlantic tropical disturbance, which has been designated Invest 94L by the National Hurricane Center (NHC), is located several hundred miles to the west of the Cabo Verde Islands and even brought tropical-storm-force winds and torrential precipitation to the region on Friday.WHAT IS AN INVEST?The NHC says the well-defined area of low pressure is producing limited showers and thunderstorms as it moves over an area that’s currently not conducive for development.However, that could change in the coming days.”The system is forecast to move generally westward toward warmer waters, and environmental conditions could become more favorable for gradual development by the middle to latter part of this week,” the NHC said.The NHC says a tropical depression could form as the system begins to move to the west-northwest and approaches or moves near the Leeward Islands later this week.So, if you have plans to travel to popular warm-weather destinations like Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands, you’ll want to keep an eye on the forecast.The NHC says the system has a low chance of developing over the next two days and a medium chance of developing over the next week.In addition to Invest 94L, the NHC is also tracking a new area to watch in the western Caribbean Sea. The NHC said a broad area of low pressure is likely to form later this week over the southwestern Caribbean.Some development is possible as the system moves toward northern Central America, but regardless of development, the NHC said heavy rainfall is possible across portions of Central America later in the week.The NHC said the area to watch has a low chance of development over the next week.
