Tropical Storm Don has persisted over the central Atlantic for the last several days without much change in intensity, but now appears to be on a strengthening trend.

As of 5:00 p.m. EDT Wednesday, Tropical Storm Don was centered near 33.8°N 40.3°W, and was moving westward at approximately 8 mph. Maximum sustained winds were 40 knots (45 mph), with an estimated minimum pressure of 1004 mb. Don, which formed as a subtropical cyclone last Friday, had been struggling to produce sustained deep convection over the last several days over cool sea surface temperatures, but now is a bonafide tropical storm poised to intensify. Don appears to be developing a primitive inner core, though the low-level center appears to be near the northwestern edge of the convective mass. During the next 36 hours or so, Don will be over sea surface temperatures of around 25°C (77°F) with light to moderate wind shear, so some additional intensification appears likely. Don will likely peak as a strong tropical storm late tomorrow or Friday. While unlikely, it does not appear completely out of the question that Don could briefly become a minimal hurricane, as has been suggested by the GFS and HWRF. Don is expected to move mostly west-northwestward through Saturday, before turning to the north and then northeast. By Saturday, Don is likely to level out in intensity or perhaps slightly weaken, as it moves over cooler waters and wind shear increases somewhat. Don should become a post-tropical remnant low early next week, though models have been inconsistent with the exact timing. Don is not expected to threaten any land areas, and no watches or warnings are currently in effect.

In addition to Don, there is another disturbance that could develop into a tropical cyclone in the Atlantic basin. A large area of disturbed weather, associated with a tropical wave, has formed over the eastern tropical Atlantic. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) currently gives this disturbance a near 0 percent chance of development within 48 hours, and a 20 percent chance within five days. The next name on the Atlantic naming list is Emily. Global models have been on and off with development of this system, but it appears as if dry air will limit development.