Invest 98L could affect the US mainland by October 1.

[nWo]

This system has strengthen to tropical storm strength. It is now Tropical Storm Ian.

 

At 500 AM EDT (0900 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Ian was
located near latitude 14.7 North, longitude 73.5 West. Ian is moving
toward the west near 14 mph (22 km/h).  A westward to 
west-northwestward motion is expected through early Sunday.  A
turn toward the northwest is forecast late Sunday, followed by a
north-northwestward turn by late Monday.  On the forecast track,
the center of Ian is forecast to move across the central Caribbean
Sea today, pass southwest of Jamaica on Sunday, and pass near or
over the Cayman Islands Sunday night and early Monday.  Ian will
then approach western Cuba on Monday.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 45 mph (75 km/h) 
with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is forecast during the 
next few days, and Ian is expected to become a hurricane late 
Sunday or Sunday night.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles (75 km)
from the center.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 1003 mb (29.62 inches).

 

 

[nWo]

Here's what this morning 06z GFS(American model) is showing. The time period is from Tuesday morning 8am to Friday night 11 pm EDT. Also a couple of charts showing the possible strenght Ian could reach plus what damage it could cause. 

 

 

[nWo]

Ian is now a tropical storm.

 

At 500 AM EDT (0900 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Ian was
located near latitude 14.9 North, longitude 78.8 West. Ian is moving
toward the west-northwest near 12 mph (19 km/h).  A turn toward the
northwest at a similar forward speed is expected later today, 
followed by a turn toward the north-northwest on Monday and north 
on Tuesday.  On the forecast track, the center of Ian is forecast
to pass well southwest of Jamaica today, and pass near or west of 
the Cayman Islands early Monday.  Ian will then move near or over 
western Cuba Monday night and early Tuesday and emerge over
the southeastern Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph (85 km/h) with higher gusts.
Rapid strengthening is forecast to begin later today.  Ian is 
expected to become a hurricane later today or tonight and reach 
major hurricane strength by late Monday or Monday night before it 
reaches western Cuba.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles (95 km)
from the center.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 1002 mb (29.59 inches).

 

[nWo]

Tropical Storm Ian is forecast to become a hurricane by Monday morning. Ian will gain strength throughout the day on Monday and probably become a major hurricane by Monday night. If the system becomes a hurricane I will start a new thread.

At 200 PM EDT (1800 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Ian was 
located near latitude 15.7 North, longitude 80.0 West. Ian is moving 
toward the west-northwest near 12 mph (19 km/h). A turn toward the 
northwest is expected this evening, followed by a 
north-northwestward motion on Monday and a northward motion on 
Tuesday with a slightly slower forward speed. On the forecast track, 
the center of Ian is expected to pass well southwest of Jamaica this 
evening, and pass near or west of the Cayman Islands early Monday. 
Ian will then move near or over western Cuba Monday night and early 
Tuesday and emerge over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph (85 km/h) with higher gusts. 
Rapid strengthening is forecast to begin tonight. Ian is expected to 
become a hurricane by early Monday and reach major hurricane 
strength Monday night or early Tuesday before it reaches western 
Cuba.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles (95 km)
from the center.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 1001 mb (29.56 inches).