As mid-August approaches, both the Atlantic and Pacific basins are showing increased activity. A developing system in the Atlantic is currently being monitored, with forecasters indicating it could become Cristobal—the third named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season—within the next few days. As of the morning of August 11, the storm’s ultimate intensity and track remain unclear.
The system is currently situated much closer to Africa than the Americas. According to an August 11 forecast from the National Hurricane Center, environmental conditions are expected to become more favorable for development over the next two days. A tropical depression is likely to form during the latter half of this week as the system moves in a westward to west-northwestward direction across the central tropical Atlantic.
Meteorological models are currently divided regarding the system’s future. Michael Lowry, a hurricane specialist with WPLG-TV in Miami, noted in an August 11 Substack post that some models suggest the system could track toward the Caribbean, potentially reaching the Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands by August 16 or 17. Other models suggest the system might curve north of these islands into the open central Atlantic while strengthening. Lowry added that most current solutions favor a weaker, southern track, noting that significant wind shear over the Caribbean could hinder the storm’s survival if it enters that region.
In response to the developing weather, the National Weather Service in Puerto Rico issued a statement on August 11, emphasizing that it is “too early to determine what impacts, if any, this system could bring to Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands.” Meanwhile, in the Pacific, a separate system is being watched for potential development into Tropical Storm Lala, which could affect Hawaii by the weekend.
With the hurricane season intensifying, officials are reminding the public of essential safety protocols. The National Weather Service identifies storm surge and inland flooding as the primary dangers during these events, urging residents to identify their evacuation zones, follow official orders, and avoid driving through flooded roadways, a practice that has already resulted in several deaths in 2026.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recommends that households prepare emergency kits containing at least three days of water—calculated at one gallon per person per day—along with nonperishable food, medications, flashlights, batteries, cash, and a battery-powered or hand-crank weather radio. Furthermore, NOAA advises maintaining multiple channels for receiving emergency alerts, such as television, radio, and trusted weather applications, rather than relying solely on mobile phones.
16 into Monday, Aug.
According to the weather service, the two biggest hurricane killers are storm surge and inland flooding, so it’s a good idea to “know your evacuation zone, heed evacuation orders, and never drive through flooded roads.”
In addition, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration advises folks to gather an emergency kit that includes at least three days of water (1 gallon per person per day), nonperishable food, medications, flashli
But forecasters see some hints about the future of the system in early model runs.
