What Is Invest 98L? Florida urged to be prepared for potential tropical storm this week
FLORIDA: Certain areas of the Bahamas and the east coast of Florida could be issued hurricane or tropical storm watches or warnings on Monday, November 7, 2022. An unusual late-season system is said to be aiming for the Sunshine State. It is expected that weather conditions will start deteriorating on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, with coastal flooding and gusty winds from Jacksonville to Miami.
The National Hurricane Center said the system was elevated to 'Invest 98L' on Sunday, November 6. It could be near or at hurricane strength approaching the northwestern Bahamas and the east coast of Florida on Wednesday, November 9, or Tuesday, November 10.
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What Is Invest 98L?
'Invest' is a shortened version of the term 'investigation'. The National Hurricane Center uses numbers from 90 to 99 to simply highlight areas of disturbed weather, with the letter referring to the basin that entity is in. 'L' is the letter for the Atlantic. Another example is the Pacific, which has the letter 'E'. The NHC will start up again with 90 after all of the numbers have been used up.
In the present situation, a combination of heavy rainfall, high winds, and offshore seas of up to 25 feet, accompanied by a tide made stronger by November's full moon, is expected to aggravate flooding. “Hurricane season is apparently not done with us yet,” said Michael Brennan, acting deputy director of the NHC, in a briefing on Sunday, November 6, according to The Palm Beach Post. “The point I want to emphasize is the scale of the system is very large and we will see impacts over a large area.”
7pm EST Sunday Nov 6--Key Messages for Area of Low Pressure over the SW Atlantic.
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) November 6, 2022
Interests along SE US coast, E Florida, & C-NW Bahamas should monitor closely. Storm Surge, Tropical Storm, & Hurricane Watches could be needed on Monday.
Latest: https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ pic.twitter.com/DwD4kXJ9MG
The disturbance had not formed a closed center of circulation as of the afternoon of November 6, which would designate it a tropical cyclone. Once it forms a closed center of circulation, forecasters get a clearer fix on where the system is heading.
This week's disturbance likely getting named in the next couple days, now referred to as invest 98L, Heading through the week, significant beach erosion, high surf and coastal flooding at our beaches is likely regardless of strength and exact path of system. pic.twitter.com/XIZ24EcJeK
— George Waldenberger (@GWaldenWFTV) November 6, 2022
"As the Division continues to support communities in their recovery from Hurricane Ian, we are now closely monitoring 98L," FDEM Director Kevin Guthrie said in a statement. “It is critical for Floridians to review their disaster preparedness plans and follow all directions from local officials in anticipation of potential impacts.”
🌧️ Although 98L's path is still uncertain, residents on the East Coast of Florida should begin preparing their disaster supply kits.
— FL Division of Emergency Management (@FLSERT) November 6, 2022
Make sure kits have enough supplies to last at least 7 days & continue to monitor all local weather alerts.
➡️ https://t.co/h8paBLw5Cg pic.twitter.com/SVaBrXVjgl
“Regardless of intensity or exact path of the system, Floridians are reminded to prepare for an increased risk of coastal flooding, heavy winds, rain, rip currents, and beach erosion,” emergency management officials said, adding, “Wind gusts can be expected as soon as Tuesday along Florida's East Coast.”