96L continues west over the central Caribbean Sea.
The convective pattern with 96L continues to be well organized with a ball of deep convection and a couple of curved bands on the east side of the system. There is no evidence of a closed low level center at this time, but the system is very close to tropical depression status and it would not require much for the system to become a tropical depression. As 96L moves westward and slows down, along with a decrease in the easterly trade winds, conditions will become more favorable for development and a closed low level center will likely form. Where this center forms and how quickly 96L approaches central America will have some bearing on the track of the system. For now a slower westward track is expected over the southwest Caribbean Sea and there remains some question as it if 96L comes under the influence of a building high pressure ridge over the southern plains and if pushed into central America or is pulled northward by a trough toward the middle to end of next week and threatens Cuba and FL.
Jeff Lindner
Director Hydrologic Operations Division/Meteorologist
Harris County Flood Control District