The Atlantic isn't done with tropical activity.
Just a day after Tropical Storm Cristobal formed in the Atlantic before weakening to a tropical depression, the National Hurricane Center is monitoring two more disturbances that could develop into tropical depressions or named systems in the coming days.
? Track all active storms
If maximum sustained winds reach 39 mph, Invest 92L could become Tropical Storm Dolly, assuming Invest 94L doesn't reach that status first.
Located east of 92L is Invest 94L, which also is expected to strengthen into a tropical depression in the coming days.
While this season is expected to see below-normal activity due to the presence of a strong El Niño, forecasters have been warning that Florida residents should always be prepared.
Shop Amazon for hurricane prep
Two tropical systems are being watched
The first disturbance, designated AL92, is about 1,000 miles east of the Lesser Antilles. The system's showers and thunderstorms have become better organized, and the National Hurricane Center gives it an 80% chance of developing into a tropical depression within the next 48 hours.
Forecasters expect the system to encounter strong upper-level winds and dry air by late Friday, Aug. 14, which should limit its development. Regardless of whether it becomes a tropical depression, gusty winds and heavy rain are possible across parts of the Lesser Antilles Friday night and Saturday, Aug 14-15.
The second disturbance, AL94, is several hundred miles south-southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands off the coast of Africa.
It has a 30% chance of developing over the next 48 hours and a 50% chance over the next seven days. Forecasters say conditions should generally support gradual development as the system moves westward or west-northwestward across the eastern and central Atlantic.
Could either system affect North Carolina?
It's too early to say.
Tropical systems this far out in the Atlantic can change significantly as they move westward.
AL92 is expected to encounter unfavorable conditions relatively soon, making significant development less likely. AL94 has more time over the Atlantic and could have a better opportunity to organize, but its eventual track and strength remain uncertain.
For North Carolina, the important thing will be whether either system survives its trek across the Atlantic and eventually turns toward the western Atlantic.
That's something forecasters will have a much better idea about as the systems develop and computer forecast models become more consistent.
For now, residents don't need to make preparations based on either disturbance. But with the Atlantic producing multiple areas of interest, it is a good reminder that hurricane season is underway and conditions can change quickly.
What about Cristobal?
The National Hurricane Center is continuing to issue advisories on Tropical Depression Cristobal, which is located about 600 miles west of the Azores.
Cristobal has already weakened, and it is not a threat to North Carolina.
Spaghetti models for Invest 92L
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.
Is there a hurricane coming toward North Carolina?
It's too early to determine what, if any, impacts from any of the tropical waves in the Atlantic could be felt in North Carolina, the National Weather Service cautioned residents to monitor the tropics and to stay prepared.
Stay informed. Get weather alerts via text
Brandi D. Addison covers weather across the nation as the Weather Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network and contributes to Texas Connect coverage across the state. She can be reached at . .
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: