The National Hurricane Center is tracking two systems, including one in the central Atlantic — Invest 96L — that could become a tropical depression next week.
Closer to the U.S. is a system of low pressure that has moved north and is now located a couple of hundred miles off the coast of North Carolina, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center.
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The system is not expected to pose a direct threat to Florida, although it is adding to increased rain chances through the weekend for North Florida, along with increased surf and rip currents.
The next named storms of the Atlantic hurricane season will be Erin and Fernand. The fifth-named storm of the season historically develops Aug. 22, followed by the sixth-named storm on Aug. 29, according to AccuWeather.
Here’s the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center as of 8 a.m. Aug. 8:
Where is Invest 96L and where is it going?
Invest 96L 8 a.m. Aug. 8, 2025.
Invest 96L is a tropical wave in the central Atlantic moving northwest to north.
It could become a tropical depression early to mid next week.
Spaghetti models for Invest 96L
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.
➤ How often has Florida been impacted, threatened by August hurricanes? We took a look back
What tropical waves, disturbances are in Atlantic basin now? How likely are they to strengthen?
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Area of low pressure: A weak area of low pressure located a couple of hundred miles off the coast of North Carolina is producing a few disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Development of this system, if any, is expected to be slow to occur over the next day or two while it moves northeast at 10 to 15 mph. The low is likely to merge with a front over the weekend, ending its chances for tropical or subtropical development.
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Formation chance through 48 hours: low, 10 percent.
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Formation chance through seven days: low, 10 percent.
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Invest 96L: A tropical wave over the central tropical Atlantic is producing minimal shower activity. Development of this system appears unlikely during the next day or two due to surrounding dry air, butenvironmental conditions are forecast to become more conducive in a few days. A tropical depression could form during the early or middle part of next week while the system moves northwest to north across the central tropical and subtropical Atlantic.
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Formation chance through 48 hours: low, near 0 percent.
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Formation chance through seven days: medium, 50 percent.
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Will disturbance off southeast coast affect Florida?
“The front lingering near the Florida/Georgia border — along with normal sea breezes — is expected to bring plenty of rain to Northeast Florida,” according to Paige Klingler, meteorologist with the National Weather Service Jacksonville in a phone interview Friday morning. Also expect rough surf and dangerous rip currents.
The five-day rain forecast for Northeast Florida is 2-5 inches, with some areas possibly seeing 6-8 inches. Localized flash flooding remains a risk through the weekend.
Rain chances are also elevated through the weekend for much of Florida, but that’s not due to the system being watched by the National Hurricane Center.
A combination of a stalled front over North Florida and an inverted trough moving across the state from the State is expected to increase rain chances across much of the state through the weekend.
East Central Florida could see 1 to 2 inches of rain through the weekend, with 2-4 inches possible in areas where storms stall or there are repeated rounds of heavy showers, said Derrick Weitlich, meteorologist with the National Weather Service Melbourne via a phone interview Friday morning.
Along Florida’s west coast, residents could see 3-4 inches of rain along the coast and 2-3 inches inland, according to meteorologist Stephen Shiveley with the National Weather Service Tampa Bay.
Is there a hurricane coming toward Florida?
No, but remember conditions can change rapidly.
The busiest period of the hurricane season runs from mid-August through mid-October and activity is picking up.
The system off the southeastern coast could bring increased chances for rain for some areas of the U.S., especially for the Carolina coast, along with rough surf and rip currents.
The tropical wave in the central Atlantic poses no threat to Florida at this time but will continue to be monitored, said the Florida Department of Emergency Management.
What do the colored, hatched areas on the NOAA map mean?
The hatched areas on the National Hurricane Center’s tropical outlook map indicate “areas where a tropical cyclone — which could be a tropical depression, tropical storm or hurricane — could develop,” said National Hurricane Center Deputy Director Jamie Rhome.
The colors make it visibly clear how likely a system could develop, with yellow being low, orange medium, and red high.
The National Hurricane Center generally doesn’t issue tropical advisories until there is a named storm, but there is an exception.
“If a system is near land and there is potential for development, the National Hurricane Center won’t wait before it issues advisories, even if the system hasn’t become an actual storm. This gives residents time to prepare,” Rhome said.
What should you do now to prepare for hurricane season?
Be prepared before there’s a storm coming.
Officials regularly encourage Florida residents to prepare for storms before a hurricane is approaching while shelves are full stocked and you aren’t battling crowds all rushing to the store at the same time.
“It only takes one storm to make it an impactful year for your community,” the National Hurricane Center Miami posted on X. “Hurricane season is a marathon, not a sprint.”
On Aug. 1, specific hurricane supplies became permanently tax free in Florida, ranging from batteries to generators.
➤ See list of emergency supplies you can now buy tax free
Florida weather radar for Aug. 8, 2025
Weather watches and warnings issued in Florida
When is the Atlantic hurricane season?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.
Ninety-seven percent of tropical cyclone activity occurs during this time period, NOAA said.
The Atlantic basin includes the northern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of America, as the Gulf of Mexico is now known in the U.S. per an order from President Trump. NOAA and the National Hurricane Center are now using Gulf of America on its maps and in its advisories.
When is the peak of hurricane season?
Hurricane season’s ultimate peak is Sept. 10 but the season goes through Nov. 30. Credit: NOAA
The peak of the season is Sept. 10, with the most activity happening between mid-August and mid-October, according to the Hurricane Center.
Hurricane names for 2025 season
Here are the names for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, along with how to pronounce them:
National Hurricane Center map: See what forecasters watching now
Systems currently being monitored by the National Hurricane Center include:
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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Hurricane Center tracks Invest 96L. Path, possible land impacts
