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National Hurricane Center updates
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
National Hurricane Center raised Invest 96L's development chance to 70%, up from 60%. The storm could be named Dolly, coinciding with Dolly Parton's death.
Background
The National Hurricane Center is monitoring several systems in the Atlantic as the season nears its peak. Invest 96L, a tropical wave off Africa, has a high chance of becoming a tropical storm. If it does, it would be named Dolly, a name chosen 30 years ago, coinciding with the recent death of music icon Dolly Parton.
How it unfolded
- Aug 22, 2026NHC tracks three Atlantic systems, including a tropical wave off Africa with growing development chances.
- Aug 24, 2026NHC tracks nine systems across Atlantic and Pacific; Invest 96L is one of the Atlantic systems.
- Aug 25, 2026NHC gives Invest 96L a 70% chance of development; Dolly Parton dies.
- Aug 26, 2026NHC drops Invest 96L's chance to 60%, but still tracks it.
- Aug 27, 2026NHC raises Invest 96L's chance back to 70%, noting better organization; advisories could begin later today.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- NHC says conditions are favorable for development and a tropical depression could form in the next day or two.
- Expert
- Meteorologist Rick Davis notes conditions may become less favorable as the system moves closer to the Caribbean.
- Public
- Fans and meteorologists call the naming coincidence 'astounding' given Dolly Parton's recent death.
Still unverified
The 'astounding coincidence' is a subjective observation by a retired meteorologist, not an official NHC statement.