3 Areas Eyed For Tropical Development As Helene Moves North: NHC

FLORIDA — As Tropical Storm Helene continues to barrel north into the U.S. Southeast Friday morning after bringing catastrophic damage to much of Florida as a powerful Category 4 hurricane, three new areas are being watched for possible tropical development, according to the National Hurricane Center.

With all eyes on Helene this week, Hurricane Isaac quietly formed in the central Atlantic. It poses no risk to the U.S., though, as it moves northeast out to sea.

Meanwhile, Invest 98-L, an area of low pressure that is producing showers and thunderstorms mid-way between the Cabo Verde Islands and the Lesser Antilles, “continues to become better organized,” NHC said. The system “is already producing gale-force winds.”

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This invest has a 90 percent chance of strengthening into a tropical depression or storm, which could form Friday as the system moves west-northwest at 10 to 15 mph, forecasters said.

It's expected to slow down and turn north-northwest by the weekend, NHC added.

Right behind Invest 98-L is a potential area of low pressure that could form by early to the middle of next week, according to the agency. After this, “slow development” of the potential system could take place as it moves northwest. There is a 20 percent chance that it strengthens into a tropical depression or storm over the next seven days.

In the western Caribbean Sea, another area of low pressure could form by the middle of next week, NHC said.

“Environmental conditions are expected to be conducive for slow development thereafter while the system moves generally northwestward, potentially entering the Gulf of Mexico by the end of next week,” according to the agency’s forecasters.

There is a 30 percent chance of it developing into a tropical depression or storm over the next seven days.