Tropical Storm Sara likely to form as Florida braces for potential impacts with weeks left of hurricane season

Invest 99L is becoming better organized and remains on track to develop into a tropical depression within days. Florida residents are now keeping an eye on the system, which forecasters say will likely strengthen into Tropical Storm Sara by the weekend.An “invest” designation allows NOAA forecasters to run specialized computer forecast models to get additional data on the disturbance’s future growth potential.The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Wednesday that the disturbance continues to produce an area of showers and thunderstorms associated with a broad area of low pressure, and the system will likely become a tropical depression soon as it slowly moves into the western Caribbean.The NHC is giving the system a near-certain chance of developing soon.“The steering currents across the Caribbean are very light, so eventually, ‘likely-Sara’ is forecast to meander in the western Caribbean near Central America through the weekend,” FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross said.After that, computer forecast models indicate that the system could strengthen into a tropical storm as it hangs out in the area and takes advantage of the warm waters and low wind shear.The FOX Forecast Center said those conditions could allow future Sara to become a hurricane – possibly a strong one.Regardless of development, heavy precipitation is expected to fall across the region from Jamaica and portions of Haiti to Central America and Mexico.From there, forecasters said an area of high pressure will build to the north of the system, and where it sets up will ultimately determine the path of future Sara.The FOX Forecast Center said the system may move into Central America or move north and track into the Gulf of Mexico sometime next week and could eventually impact Florida.Norcross said that a consensus of computer forecast models shows the system forming near or offshore the Honduras-Nicaragua border and has a good chance of becoming a hurrica...