Two Disturbances Could Develop in the Atlantic This Week

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is monitoring two disturbances in the eastern Atlantic Ocean that could develop into tropical systems this week.

The two areas of interest have been designated Invest 92-L and Invest 93-L, according to the NHC's tracking updates.

The "invest" designation is used by forecasters when a weather system is being investigated for its potential to organise and strengthen, though it does not guarantee that development will occur.

The "L" suffix indicates that both systems are located within the Atlantic basin, distinguishing them from disturbances tracked in the eastern or central Pacific.

This activity comes during the Atlantic hurricane season, the period each year when conditions are most favourable for tropical storms and hurricanes to form.

The eastern Atlantic, near the coast of Africa, is a frequent origin point for storms that can eventually track westward across the ocean.

Forecasters rely on satellite imagery and other observational tools to assess whether a disturbance has the organisation needed to become a tropical depression, the earliest classified stage of a storm.

If a system continues to strengthen, it can progress to a tropical storm and, in some cases, a full hurricane, depending on atmospheric and oceanic conditions.

The NHC has not specified a timeline for when, or whether, either Invest 92-L or Invest 93-L will strengthen into a named storm.

Not all disturbances that receive an "invest" designation go on to develop; many dissipate due to unfavourable conditions such as dry air or wind shear.

The mention of El Niño in the broader context of this year's hurricane season is notable, as this climate pattern can influence overall storm activity across the Atlantic basin.

Residents and officials along the Atlantic coast are encouraged to monitor updates from the NHC as the situation with both invests continues to evolve throughout the week.