Jane Minar reports that Invest 91L is showing increasing odds of tropical development in the Gulf of Mexico.
Jane Minar reports that Invest 91L, a tropical disturbance in the northern Gulf of Mexico, has seen its probability of tropical development rise to 40% over the next seven days. The National Hurricane Center designated the system on Saturday as an area of low pressure to track. While the system currently lacks a tightly coiled structure due to strong wind shear, it remains a significant producer of moisture. Rain is already falling in Tampa and along Florida's northwestern coast. The National Hurricane Center indicates that most impacts will be rainfall, with wind impacts expected only if the system organizes into a tropical depression or tropical storm. If the system develops into a tropical storm, it will be named Bertha. Current models suggest a northward trajectory toward the Florida Panhandle and southern Alabama. Residents in coastal Alabama and the Florida panhandle are advised to monitor the system as it moves over warmer waters.