By the time Invest 98L reaches the central Caribbean in the middle to later part of this week, a tropical depression is likely to form.

Invest 98L now has a 70% (medium) chance of developing into a named storm in the Caribbean within the next seven days.

This disturbance, known as Invest 98L, was a few hundred miles west of the Windward Islands early Monday and was producing a broad area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms packing winds of 30 to 40 mph. Satellite imagery still shows it lacking a closed center of circulation as it quickly tracks west.

According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), a tropical depression could develop this week in the Caribbean. A tropical system, designated by the NHC as Invest 98L, is currently over the eastern Caribbean Sea,

Invest 98L is showing signs of organization over the central Caribbean Sea— the next storm name is Melissa. There is a 90% chance of further development in the next 48 hours.

The disturbance, currently identified as Invest 98L, continues to organize itself over the central Caribbean Sea. Satellite and radar data early Tuesday show that the system now has a broad but improving circulation. While it still lacks a fully defined center, the overall structure is becoming more organized.

L does not yet have a closed circulation, meaning it’s not an organized system. It's moving fast at about 20 to 25 mph westward, so development will stay limited

The National Hurricane Center is monitoring Invest 98L south of the U.S. Virgin Islands. While its path is uncertain, forecasters say conditions in the Caribbean may support development later this week,