TD #8 Emerges on Sunday Morning; Tropical Storm Watch for Outer Banks May Be Issued on Sunday night

While a lot of the focus in the Atlantic Tropics has been on Invest 99L, a couple other disturbances have spun up in the basin over the last 24 hours. One of those new features was Invest 91L, which acquired a weak circulation along with an increase in shower and thunderstorm activity earlier today.

The depression was classified by the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida late Sunday morning. Since then, the system hasn’t strengthened much. Much of the shower and thunderstorm activity associated with TD #8 is to the north and west of the center of circulation. As of the 5:00 PM EDT Advisory from the NHC, the depression was located some 355 miles to the Southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

TD #8 is presently moving slowly to the west at 9 miles per hour. Maximum sustained winds are currently at 35 miles per hour with gusts up to 45 miles per hour. Minimum central pressure is still quite high at 1010 millibars, or 29.83 inches of Hg. The depression could strengthen some over the next 48 hours or so, and could become a tropical storm on Monday.

At this time, there are no watches or warnings out for any land areas. However, residents along the Outer Banks of North Carolina should closely monitor developments with this tropical system. A Tropical Storm Watch could be issued later tonight. According to the latest NHC track guidance, the depression is expected to come very close to the Outer Banks of North Carolina by Tuesday before turning to the Northeast and away from land.

Looking at the intensity forecast, the depression is expected to reach minimal tropical storm strength within 24 hours, and maximum sustained winds could increase to 45 miles per hour within 72 hours. The forecast expects TD #8 to dissipate within four days.