The tropics have sprung to life this week, as Humberto has formed and Invest 94L could become a named storm by the end of the weekend. Neither appears to pose any immediate issues to West Central and Southwest Florida. Humberto’s formation, while Gabrielle is in the north Atlantic, marked the first time this year we have had two active named storms at the same time.

Humberto is not a threat to the U.S., but is expected to strengthen into a hurricane over the next few days. It will be moving slowly in the short term before likely curving back to the northeast and accelerating early next week. Bermuda will need to carefully monitor the progress of this system.

To the west of Humberto is Invest 94L.

This tropical wave will likely develop into at least a tropical depression or tropical storm as it moves out of the Caribbean and into a more favorable environment to organize.

A trough should eventually steer it back to the northeast. The timing of this feature, the strength of the storm, and the influence of Humberto on it will heavily dictate the path it takes. It will be a rain-maker for the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands, and Hispaniola regardless of development.

The east coast of the United States (spanning from Florida’s Atlantic coast to Virginia) will need to keep an eye on this system until there is better weather model agreement in its projected path.

Impacts for those areas cannot be determined or ruled out at this moment.

The next name assigned will be Imelda.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Gabrielle is expected to bring hurricane conditions to the Azores within a day or two. Hurricane warnings are up for the islands. Europe will be monitoring the post-tropical remnants of Gabrielle over the weekend.

Gabrielle has developed into the second hurricane of our 2025 Atlantic season. The storm is expected to continue strengthening over the next few days, likely becoming a major hurricane early this week.

Gabrielle will pass over a hundred miles east of Bermuda.

There is high confidence in its eventual turn northeastward towards the North Atlantic and far away from the United States. Swells generated by Gabrielle will continue to affect Bermuda and parts of the U.S. east coast, creating life-threatening surf and rip-current conditions in some spots.

Behind Gabrielle, there are two tropical waves we are currently monitoring. Each has growing development chances.

The east disturbance now has a 60% chance of development within the orange shaded region. This is the same spot we’ve been monitoring for several days now. Weather models that forecast this formation have overwhelmingly kept it away from Florida.

The west disturbance was added this afternoon and has seen its odds of development climb to 30%. There are not as many weather models supporting the development of this wave. However, it would be forming much closer to the U.S. than the eastern wave and should be monitored for potential impacts, especially as it pulls north.

A combination of dry air and wind shear are making it difficult for a tropical depression or storm to organize in the short term. While both systems need to be watched closely this week, the National Hurricane Center has stated the eastward wave is more likely to form. That area appears to be more conducive for storm development mid-to-late next week.

It is too early to project the potential impacts either of these waves may bring. The next few days should bring increasing clarity on if one or either of these will form.

The next name on our 2025 storm naming list would be Humberto.