"No matter whether Invest 98L becomes a tropical storm later this week, it could lead to serious flooding."
"A sprawling, fast-moving tropical disturbance raced through the Windward Islands on Sunday and entered the Caribbean, where it’s set to become a formidable rainmaker for days on end. Odds are rising that Invest 98L will become a tropical storm later this week, and hurricane strength can’t be ruled out, especially if the system stalls over the exceptionally warm waters of the central Caribbean.
Even if 98L remains offshore, people along the south coasts of the Greater Antilles, especially the Dominican Republic, would be wise to prepare for the potential of torrential rains and flooding later this week on the north flank of 98L. Northern portions of Honduras and Nicaragua in Central America may also be at risk. Because of high wind shear from the placement of the subtropical jet stream from Florida eastward through the Bahamas, 98L is not expected to be a threat to the continental U.S. for at least the next week.
In its Tropical Weather outlook issued at 8 a.m. EDT Monday, the National Hurricane Center gave 98L a 50% chance of becoming at least a tropical depression by Wednesday (those odds were up from 30% odds in the Sunday evening advisory) and an 80% chance over the next week. The next name on the Atlantic list is Melissa."
Bob Henson and Jeff Masters report for Yale Climate Connections October 20, 2025.
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