There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.

None.

At 200 AM CVT (0300 UTC), the center of Tropical Depression Twelve was located near latitude 12.1 North, longitude 23.2 West. The depression is moving toward the west northwest near 20 mph (31 km/h). A west to west northwest motion is expected during the next couple of days, followed by a turn to the northwest. Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph (55 km/h) with higher gusts. Steady strengthening is expected, and the depression is forecast to become a tropical storm later today and a hurricane in a couple of days. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1006 mb (29.71 inches).

Satellite images indicate that the depression is gradually becoming better organized. An area of deep convection has been persisting near the center, and banding features are beginning to take shape. The latest Dvorak estimates from TAFB and SAB have increased to 2.5/35 kt, which would support upgrading the system to a tropical storm. However, a recent ASCAT-B overpass around 2300 UTC showed maximum winds in the 25-30 kt range in the northeastern quadrant, and based on that data the initial intensity is held at 30 kt.

The tropical depression is moving fairly quickly to the west-northwest at 17 kt. The track forecast reasoning appears fairly straightforward. The cyclone is expected to move at a relatively fast pace to the west or west-northwest during the next couple of days as it remains on the south side of a strong mid-level ridge. After that time, a decrease in forward speed and a gradual turn to the northwest are expected as the system nears the southwestern side of the ridge. Although most of the models agree on the synoptic steering pattern, there is a fair amount of spread from days 3 to 5 in how soon the northwestward turn will occur. The NHC track forecast lies near the middle of the guidance envelope and is a little to the north of the previous one based on the more poleward initial position.

Since the system is expected to be over relatively warm water and in an air mass of low wind shear and abundant moisture, steady strengthening is expected during the next couple of days. The depression is likely to become a tropical storm within the next 12 hours and a hurricane in 36 to 48 hours. Beyond a few days, an increase in shear and drier air should slow the rate of intensification. The NHC intensity forecast follows the trend of the HCCA, IVCN, and IVDR models. In addition, the global models all show the cyclone becoming fairly large toward the end of the forecast period. The NHC forecast wind radii is larger than the previous one, trending toward the radii consensus aid.