Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) are continuing to monitor strengthening Tropical Storm Fernand swirling over the open waters of the Atlantic as chances of development for Invest 99L near the Caribbean continue to dwindle.

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.

The National Hurricane Center is tracking five tropical disturbances in the Atlantic, according to the 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22, advisory from the National Hurricane Center. Invest 90L near the Leeward Islands is "very likely" to become a tropical depression or tropical storm over the weekend. If so, it would become Fernand.