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Invest 99L faces 70% chance of becoming a tropical depression within 48 hours

Tropics Update 9/18/26 (WFTV)

CENTRAL FLA. — We are watching a new area in the open Atlantic, and it could become a tropical depression shortly.

The area, designated Invest 99L, is located in the open Atlantic southwest of the Azores.

It has organized quickly in the last 12 hours and could become a tropical depression in the next 48 hours.

The National Hurricane Center is giving Invest 99L a 70% chance of development.

The system is expected to remain out to sea this weekend into early next week.

While the Gulf, the Caribbean, and the remainder of the Atlantic are quiet, things may change by late month.

The Central American Gyre is expected to organize in the coming weeks in the Caribbean Sea.

This gyre could develop a vortex that lifts into the Gulf late in the month.

Any vortex that does lift northward would have to be watched for potential tropical organization.

We remain in the peak of hurricane season, and additional areas of interest are likely in the coming weeks.

Stay with Severe Weather Center 9 for the latest on the tropics all season long.

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