There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.

None.

At 1100 AM AST (1500 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Rene was located near latitude 17.6 North, longitude 31.5 West. Rene is moving toward the westnorthwest near 13 mph (20 km/h), and a motion toward the westnorthwest is expected for the next couple of days, followed by a turn to the northwest.

Satellitederived wind data indicate that the maximum sustained winds have increased to near 40 mph (65 km/h) with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours.

Tropicalstormforce winds extend outward up to 45 miles (75 km) from the center.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 1003 mb (29.62 inches).

Although easterly shear has been affecting the system, Rene is producing vigorous deep convection, along with a broad convective band, over its western semicircle. Scatterometer data indicate winds to 35 knots over the northwestern quadrant, and therefore the system is again being designated as a tropical storm. The cyclone should be within an environment of moderate vertical shear, on the western side of an upper-level anticyclone, for the next couple of days. Therefore, gradual strengthening is forecast, and Rene is expected to become a hurricane late this week. By the weekend, increasing westerly shear should cause weakening. The official intensity forecast is a little above the model consensus. Rene is currently moving west-northwestward, or 285/11 kt, on the southern side of a mid-level ridge. A weakness in the ridge near 40W longitude is likely to cause the storm to turn toward the northwest in 2 to 3 days, followed by a turn toward the north-northwest. By the end of the forecast period, Rene's forward progress should slow as it encounters a block in the mid-level flow. As anticipated, the official track forecast is shifted to the left of the previous one, but not as far to the left as the latest corrected multi-model consensus.