Earlier this week it had been given a high chance of developing into a tropical depression or even Tropical Storm Hermine, but instead it has struggled to organize.
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“This motion is expected to continue for the next few days”, the Miami-based NHC said.
On this Saturday, the tropical disturbance (99L) is continuing to move to the west-northwest at about 10 miles per hour.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to almost 50 mph with higher gusts, and tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles from the center. One forecaster tweeted that trying to predict 99-L’s future was making his hair grey and that the system was testing the limits of science. Gusty winds and locally heavy rainfall are likely over portions of the Bahamas, and will spread into parts of southern Florida and the Florida Keys by Sunday.
At this time, the track is moving farther to the south.
There is only a slight chance of additional development for the system, but it could produce heavy rain along the coast from Louisiana to southeastern Texas as it reaches the coast of Texas. The system that appeared to be on life support on Thursday has shown some signs of coming back to life today, but wind shear and dry air continue to make it an uphill battle for ’99L’.
Spokesman Randy Smith of the South Florida Water Management District says water levels have been lowered in area canals in anticipation of the storm. However, the disturbance named Invest 99L has weakened and may reduce its chances of turning into tropical storm Hermine. Now it is not near any landmasses and is at tropical storm status having weakened slightly from hurricane force. Most forecasts suggest the invest should continue to move in a west or north-west trajectory into the weekend.
It was not expected to directly affect Bermuda.
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A tropical depression southeast of Hawaii Island is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane Monday with maximum sustained winds of 75 miles per hour.
