Treasure Coast residents should keep a close eye on a developing system over the Caribbean Sea, Invest 99L, is on the verge of becoming Tropical Storm Sara, with forecasts indicating a high chance of impacting Florida by next week. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has given the disturbance a 90% likelihood of forming into a tropical depression within the next 48 hours, with a potential upgrade to a hurricane by Friday.
Storm Details and Track Uncertainty
Currently at 16.1°N 77.6°W, Invest 99L has maximum winds of 20 knots and a central pressure of 1007 mb. If it strengthens as predicted, it could rapidly intensify in the warm waters of the western Caribbean and become a major hurricane with sustained winds exceeding 111 mph over the weekend.
The eventual path of the storm remains uncertain, hinging on the positioning of a high-pressure dome near the southern Atlantic coast.
Forecasters report that if the high pressure weakens, Hurricane Sara could steer northward toward the Florida Keys or the Gulf Coast, which could cause various impacts along the Treasure Coast.
Potential Impacts on the Treasure Coast
Areas along Florida’s Treasure Coast, including cities from Vero Beach to Stuart, could experience varying impacts depending on the storm’s track. If Sara moves toward the Gulf, western Florida may bear the brunt of the storm, but high surf and rip currents would be expected along the Atlantic coast. There is also the possibility of heavy rainfall and strong winds within Treasure Coast communities by mid-next week.
At this time, experts are saying that everyone from the Big Bend to the Florida Keys should be keeping a watch on the storm. Although models are in agreement with movement at the moment, predictions can always shift. Keep up to date with Invest 99L on the Hurricane Center as things continue to progress.
