A growing disturbance in the Atlantic, known as Invest 91L, could soon develop into Tropical Storm Gabrielle and threaten millions along the US East Coast. The National Hurricane Center gave it a “90 percent chance of developing into a tropical depression,” the first step toward a hurricane.

Currently, Invest 91L is a weak, unorganized system with winds around 23 mph, but forecasters warn it could strengthen to a tropical storm at 39 mph or a hurricane at 74 mph. Early spaghetti models show possible landfall in Florida on September 16, with paths stretching through Georgia, the Carolinas, and Virginia. Meteorologist Tony Mainolfi noted there is “still a lot of uncertainty,” but Florida may face a turbulent September.

NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center warned Florida and the Gulf states of “potential tropical cyclones from September 10 through September 23.” Already, 2025 has seen six named storms, with up to 19 expected this season.

The National Weather Service cautioned, “It only takes one storm to make a season memorable,” urging residents to prepare supplies now. NWS Director Ken Graham added: “Every Category 5 [hurricane] that has ever hit this country was a tropical storm or less three days prior.”