Will the remnants of Tropical Storm Dolly wander close to South Florida this week or even impact your Labor Day plans in Palm Beach County?
It's possible, so make sure you're ready for whatever could come.
➤Track all active storms
Shop Amazon for hurricane prep
AccuWeather forecasters said "Tropical Rainstorm Dolly could reorganize near the Bahamas or Florida" in the middle to later part of this week.
Elsewhere in the tropics, tropical storm watches or warnings may be issued later today as Invest 97L approaches Upper Texas or the southwestern Louisiana coast.
The National Hurricane Center said a short-lived tropical depression or even a tropical storm are likely before the system makes landfall Sept. 1.
➤ Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates
about current storms and weather events by location
While forecasters are saying there is no need at this time to change any Labor Day plans, South Florida residents should closely monitor the tropics.
Here's the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center as of 8 a.m. Aug. 31:
Spaghetti models for Invest 97L
Special note about spaghetti models: Spaghetti model illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The Hurricane Center uses only the top four or five highest performing models to help make its forecasts.
➤ Track Invest 97L
Could Florida or Palm Beach County feel any impacts from Invest 97L?
"Tropical moisture will continue to flow into the Gulf, feeding showers and thunderstorms across the Gulf Coast throughout the week," according to AccuWeather.
"This flow of tropical moisture will keeplocalized flooding concerns in place from Houston and New Orleans eastward through Tampa and Orlando, Florida."
Gusty winds and heavy rainfall is likely in any showers and storms, with the highest coverage in coastal counties, the National Weather Service Mobile posted on X. There's also a moderate risk for rip currents through Aug. 31.
What is an invest?
Short for investigation, the National Hurricane Center uses the term invest for areas of low pressure it is monitoring for potential development into a tropical depression or storm.
Invests are not tropical depressions or tropical storms. They're usually clusters of showers and thunderstorms, and just because they've been designated as an invest does not guarantee they'll strengthen into a tropical storm or hurricane.
Invests run from 90 to 99, followed by a letter: L for the Atlantic basin and E for those in the eastern Pacific. After 99, it starts over again and the next invest would be 90.
Once something has been designated as an invest, specialized data sets and computer models can begin, including scheduling Hurricane Hunter aircraft missions and running spaghetti models.
Will Tropical Storm Dolly remnants return for Florida encore?
Tropical Storm Dolly, which formed out of a tropical wave Aug. 27 in the central Atlantic only two days after the death of country music icon Dolly Parton, weakened quickly as it ran into wind shear and dry air.
On Aug. 31, those remnants were bringing heavy rain and gusty winds to the Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands, Hispaniola and Puerto Rico.
"Conditions could become more conducive for redevelopment by the middle of the week as the system reaches the southern Bahamas or Florida Straits," according to the National Hurricane Center.
That could bring impacts closer to the U.S. around Labor Day weekend, according to AccuWeather.
Where could Dolly's remnants go? Is South Florida or Palm Beach County in the path?
The remnants of Dolly continue to battle wind shear and dry air Aug. 31. Where it could go and whether it could restrengthen remain unclear as of now, but the possibilities outlined by AccuWeather include:
- Dolly could totally dissipate by early this week.
- A dip in the jet stream could "scoop up Dolly and pull it away from the United States mainland and off into the western North Atlantic."
- A more likely scenario would be a storm that's pushed west, approaching Florida as early as midweek or the Gulf later this week.
""Should a tropical depression form or enter the Gulf, it could strengthen quickly," said Alex DaSilva, AccuWeather lead hurricane expert.
"Even though Dolly has been downgraded by the National Hurricane Center, people should not automatically write off the storm or the potential for tropical development near the Southeast Atlantic and Gulf coasts."
Here's what National Hurricane Center is tracking in the tropics
There are two disturbances listed by the National Hurricane Center on its tropical outlook map as of 8 a.m. Aug. 31, along with four tropical waves.
Invest 97L: An area of low pressure located a little more than 100 miles south of the coast of southern Louisiana continues to produce a small but concentrated area of showers and thunderstorms with some signs of organization.
Additional development is expected as the low moves slowly west-northwestward, and a short-lived tropical depression or tropical storm is likely to form before the system reaches the Upper Texas or southwestern Louisiana coasts on Sept. 1.Residents along the southwestern Louisiana and Upper Texas coasts should monitor the progress of this system, as tropical storm watches or warnings could be required for portions of the area later today.
Regardless of development, this system is expected to bring locally heavy rainfall to portions of the Upper Texas andsouthwestern Louisiana coasts during the next couple of days.
An Air Force Reserve reconnaissance aircraft is scheduled to investigate the system this morning.
- Formation chance through 48 hours was high at 70 percent.
- Formation chance through 7 days was high at 70 percent.
Remnants of Dolly: A surface trough of low pressure (the remnants of Tropical Storm Dolly) is producing a disorganized area of showers and thunderstorms that extends from near Hispaniola eastward to the northern LeewardIslands.
Redevelopment, if any, would be slow to occur during the next few days as the system encounters generally unfavorable upper-level winds while moving quickly west-northwestward at 20 to 25 mph.
Regardless, the system could bring locally heavy rains and gusty winds to portions of the Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, and the Bahamas during the next couple of days.
- Formation chance through 48 hours was low near 0 percent.
- Formation chance through 7 days was low at 10 percent.
There are four tropical waves:
- An eastern Atlantic tropical wave is along 23W, south of 20N, moving westward at 11 to 17 mph.
- A central Atlantic tropical wave is along 43W, south of 20N, moving westward at 17 mph.
- A central Caribbean tropical wave is along 74W, south of 17N, moving westward at 17 to 23 mph.
- A western Caribbean tropical wave is along 84W, south of 17N, moving westward at 17 to 23 mph.
What is a tropical wave?
"Tropical waves are clusters of showers and thunderstorms that act as the seedlings for many tropical storms throughout the Atlantic season," said Alex DaSilva, AccuWeather lead hurricane expert, via email.
“There are about 60 tropical waves that move across the Atlantic each year, and roughly 10 percent to 15 percent of them develop into a tropical system. That’s about one in seven.
"Tropical waves are important because they contribute to about 80 percent of all major hurricanes."
What do the colored, hatched areas on the NHC map mean?
The hatched areas on the National Hurricane Center's tropical outlook map indicate "areas where a tropical cyclone — which could be a tropical depression, tropical storm or hurricane — could develop," said National Hurricane Center Deputy Director Jamie Rhome.
➤ Hurricane Center is testing new cone: What's changing the season
The colors make it visibly clear how likely a system could develop, with orange medium and red high. In 2026, the tropical outlook will use a gray X to indicate disturbances with a low chance for development.
The National Hurricane Center generally doesn't issue tropical advisories until there is a named storm, but there is an exception.
"If a system is near land and there is potential for development, the National Hurricane Center won't wait before it issues advisories, even if the system hasn't become an actual storm. This gives residents time to prepare," Rhome said.
When is hurricane season in Florida?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.
Ninety-seven percent of tropical cyclone activity occurs during this time period, NOAA said.
➤ Hurricane Center testing new cone: What's changing this season?
The Atlantic basin includes the northern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of America, as the Gulf of Mexico is now known in the U.S. per an order from President Trump. NOAA and the National Hurricane Center are now using Gulf of America on its maps and in its advisories.
Countdown clock to end of 2026 Atlantic hurricane season
How many tropical storms, hurricanes are in a typical season?
The 30-year average, from 1991 to 2020, is for 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes.
Florida weather radar for Aug. 31, 2026
Weather watches and warnings issued in Florida
When is the peak of hurricane season?
The peak of the season is Sept. 10, with the most activity happening between mid-August and mid-October, according to the Hurricane Center.
What are names for 2026 Atlantic hurricane season?
Here are the names for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season and how to pronounce them:
Arthur: Tropical Storm Arthur formed June 17, 2026Bertha: Tropical Storm Bertha formed July 20, 2026Cristobal: Tropical Storm Cristobal formed Aug. 12- Dolly: Tropical Storm Dolly formed Aug. 27
- Edouard, eh-DWARD (fifth-named storm historically forms Aug. 22; first hurricane by Aug. 11; and first major hurricane Sept. 1)
- Fay, fay
- Gonzalo, gohn-SAH-loh
- Hanna, HAN-uh
- Isaias, ees-ah-EE-ahs
- Josephine, JOH-seh-feen
- Kyle, KY-ull
- Leah, LEE-ah
- Marco, MAR-koe
- Nana, NA-na
- Omar, OH-mar
- Paulette, pawl-LET
- Rene, re-NAY
- Sally, SAL-ee
- Teddy, TEHD-ee
- Vicky, VIH-kee
- Wilfred, WILL-fred
Interactive map: See how many hurricanes, tropical storms have passed near your home
Stay informed. Get weather alerts via text
What's next?
We will continue to update our tropical weather coverage to bring you the most current information you need to protect your home and family.
Cheryl McCloud is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida's service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://naplesnews.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Will Tropical Storm Dolly reform, target South Florida after Caribbean?
Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.
