- Invest 97 is likely to become a tropical storm by Thursday

- Anyone with interests in the Caribbean should monitor closely

- Too soon for a credible forecast track or potential impacts to U.S.

Update Wednesday 8 am: According to the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Hunters have found tropical storm force winds, but have yet to find a closed area of low pressure. The mission will be completed by 11 am.

USAF plane reports strong tropical wave #97L producing 40-45 mph winds. Mission now beginning to determine if a tropical storm has formed pic.twitter.com/PZI1opO2Ib

— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 28, 2016

Original Story Tuesday Afternoon: Invest 97, a tropical wave located 300 miles east of Barbados, is likely to strengthen to a tropical depression or storm Tuesday Night or Wednesday. Hurricane hunters did not find a closed surface low or wind speeds high enough to classify Invest 97 as a tropical cyclone Tuesday afternoon. However, it’s more a matter of when, not if, this will happen.

The tropical wave is forecast to strengthen as it crosses the Windward Islands into the eastern Caribbean by the end of the week, and it could even become a hurricane by this weekend. At some point in the next five days, a turn to the northwest is projected to occur, which places numerous islands in the Caribbean at risk for a direct hit. However, confidence is very low at this point where and when this turn will take place.

Anyone with interests in the Caribbean should monitor this system closely over the coming days.  Floridians are also strongly encouraged to watch Invest 97 closely, as all outcomes regarding its track are on the table. Update will be available on your local public radio station or via the free mobile app Florida Storms.

Official information from the National Hurricane Center will automatically update below.

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