Invest 97L tracker: Path, spaghetti models, forecast toward Gulf of Mexico, Florida Alabama

The next tropical storm or hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season could be brewing in the Caribbean, before it reaches the Gulf of Mexico.

The National Hurricane Center is monitoring a potential system, known as Invest 97L, in the Caribbean. It's expected to become a tropical depression before it reaches the Gulf of Mexico. From there, it's expected to make a northeastern turn towards the southwestern U.S. Gulf Coast with Louisiana, Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle potential in its path.

Whether it becomes tropical storm Helen or even hurricane Helene is uncertain at this point. Here is the latest on its potential track.

Invest 97L update: Tropical depression more likely for Gulf of Mexico

Time to keep an eye on the tropics as system 97L's chance of formation rises to 80% in the next seven days. New models show possible tracks of the system.