Hurricane center increases odds Atlantic system could develop

Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel on Sep 17, 2026

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ORLANDO, Fla. — The National Hurricane Center on Thursday said a system in the Atlantic had increased chances again it could become the season’s next tropical depression or storm.

As of the NHC’s 8 a.m. tropical outlook, the small area of low pressure, now listed as Invest 98-L, was located about 350 miles east of Bermuda with better organized showers and thunderstorms since Wednesday.

“Environmental conditions could support gradual development of the system during the next day or two, and a tropical depression could form during that time,” forecasters said. “The system is forecast to move slowly today, and then possibly turn southward on Friday over the subtropical Atlantic. By Sunday, environmental conditions are forecast to become less favorable for development.”

The NHC gave it a 40% chance to develop in the next two days and 40% chance to develop in the next seven days.

So far the hurricane season has yet to produce an actual hurricane, but has seen the formation of tropical storms Arthur, Bertha, Cristobal, Dolly and Edouard. The next name on the list is Fay.

Edouard made landfall in Louisiana with the NHC’s last advisory coming on Sept. 3 as it moved inland over Texas.

It’s been quiet in the tropics since then.

Hurricane season began June 1 and runs through Nov. 30, but the height of hurricane season runs from mid-August through mid-October.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration last month updated its seasonal forecast and now expects between seven and 13 named storms this year. Of those, two to six would become hurricanes. It also predicted that there might not be any major hurricanes this year, or at most two.

Already, 2026 was forecast to have lower-than-average storm generation, and that has been reduced even further with the latest forecasts from the NOAA and other weather groups.

An average year would see 14 named storms and seven hurricanes, with three of those growing to Category 3 strength or higher.

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